Trouble on Big Beat Street

"Shaped by David Thomas' belief that a song is at its best the first time it is played, the album's pieces were performed by the band only once while recording ... Though Trouble...'s songs feel connected more by their execution than their themes, the record's underlying threads are also compelling. Pere Ubu's folk, jazz, and blues influences are more prominent than they've been in quite a while, whether in the collision of bluegrassy harmonies and taut drums and guitars on "Moss Covered Boondoggle" or the dangerously romantic fusion of punk and jazz on "Love Is Like Gravity" ... Given the nature of its creative process, Trouble on Big Beat Street sometimes meanders, and not all of its detours are rewarding. Nevertheless, this is some of Pere Ubu's most rawly experimental music in some time; for fans who want to feel like they're listening in on the band working out these songs instead of being presented a perfected product, there's a lot to love".

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"This might not be a perfect album, but given that one suspects the element of chaos in Ubu's inner workings will always be an essential part of their process, that might not be an entirely desirable outcome anyway. What it is though, is another great Pere Ubu record, one imbued with a more upbeat emotional sensibility than its predecessor, with some memorable songs and some wild sonic experiments. It's a snapshot of where the band are right now, as well las a hint of where they might still go in future".

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"Pere Ubu's music remains as difficult to define as it was nearly 50 years ago when they released their debut single, "30 Seconds Over Tokyo". 'Trouble On Big Beat Street' is David Thomas's much-belated response to hearing Van Dyke Parks' 'Song Cycle', and succeds through Thomas's bravery ... Although the record is unlikely to convert any sceptics, the presence of Wide-eyed improviser Alex Ward gives Thomas the perfect foil".

"'Trouble...' is thrillingly frsh: fractured and pulsing, gnarly and tender, whilst Thomas's cackle and warble is undiminished".