April 21, 2009 16:47

Pixies confirm 'Minotaur' release plans

Band reveal details behind mystery release

Pixies have confirmed the release of 'Minotaur' after speculation mounted earlier today (April 21) that a new release by the reformed band was imminent.

Available to pre-order from June 15, 'Minotaur' is a luxury collector's box set featuring a wealth of material spanning the band's entire career.

The albums featured in the release are 'Come On Pilgrim' (1987), 'Surfer Rosa' (1988), 'Doolittle' (1989), 'Bossanova' (1990), and 'Trompe Le Monde' (1991).

'Minotaur' will see all five albums re-released in on 24k layered CD and Blu-ray format. The deluxe version of the package includes a DVD of Pixies legendary 1991 Brixton Academy performance, all the band's videos, a 54-page book and reinterpreted artwork by Vaughan Oliver.

Oliver helped to design much of the original artwork for Pixies, and for the 'Minotaur' collection he has re-shot much of the material, along with photographer Simon Larbalestier.

Now a teacher at the University of the Creative Arts in Epsom, Oliver says he asked his students to help out on the new designs.

"I selected a team of students under my direction to work with the titles in the track listing, in a three dimensional way," he said of the project. "Cutting the track listing out of cards, shining light through it, making the track titles from nails - all very organic."

Meanwhile, a limited edition version of 'Minotaur' features everything in the deluxe edition plus all five Pixies' albums on 180-gram vinyl, a Giclee print of Oliver's artwork and a 72-page hardcover book.

Fans can pre-order the collection from Ainr.com.

Watch a video about 'Minotaur' below.