Pere Ubu’s ‘The Tenement Year’ newly reissued for National Album Day

Newly reissued for National Album Day in a limited-edition clear vinyl, 500 copies only.

American rock band Pere Ubu’s music is a disorienting mix of midwestern groove rock, “found” sound, analog synthesizers, falling-apart song structures and careening vocals. It is a mix that has mesmerized critics, musicians, and fans for decades.

 

‘The Tenement Year’ is the sixth studio album by Pere Ubu, their first album after reuniting following their 1982 break-up. The album chronicles another crucial era for the band, an escapade that retooled our understanding of what pop music is and moves away from the abstract sounds of their earlier releases.

Here the band consisted of core members David Thomas, on vocals, trombone and melodeon; Allen Ravenstine on EML synthesisers and sax; Tony Maimone on bass and Scott Krauss on drums. They were joined by Jim Jones on guitar and Henry Cow drummer Chris ‘Cutlery’ Cutler on second drum kit.

Pre-Order Pere Ubu ‘The Tenement Year’

BUY ALBUM

A classic

NME (Edwin Pouncey - 1988)

Astonishing

Village Voice (Robert Christgau - 1988)

It's still a band that blithely upends all that's solid and foursquare about rock

New York Times (Jon Pareles - 1988)