#zwan

Paz Lenchantin - Pixies / Zwan / A Perfect Circle and others

I was kind of bummed when The Pixies parted ways with bassist Paz Lenchantin in March 2024. She had a tough act to follow after longtime bassist Kim Deal left in 2013 (Kim Shattuck filled in for 2013), but she rose to the challenge. She was great on 2016’s Head Carrier, 2019’s Beneath the Eyrie, and 2022’s excellent Doggerel (the best Pixies album since they reunited in 2004). It also needs to be added that I saw them in 2017 at House of Blues and while it was a different show from the 2004 reunion show I caught, they were firing on all cylinders and she was solid part of the band’s lineup. Prior to her time in The Pixies, Lenchantin worked with A Perfect Circle, Zwan, Melissa Auf der Maur, and Queens of the Stone Age to name a few, so I knew she wasn't going to be without music for long. In addition to her bass playing, she is an accomplished vocalist and violinist. She is now back with her third solo album Triste dropping this week from Hideous Human Records.

album cover

On this solo album (her first since 2006) she played all of the instruments before bringing in some guest musicians including drummer Josh Freese (recently traded from Foo Fighters back to his old band Nine Inch Nails), Troy Van Leeuwen (the guitarist in A Perfect Circle with her), and more. The thing with this album is Lenchantin is a tremendous talent with a proven track record and it's cool to hear her shine with lots of other instruments beyond bass....it's just that her work with The Pixies is a tough act to follow. Although I enjoyed last year's Pixies album The Night The Zombies Came with new bassist Emma Richardson, it was too bad because Doggerel felt like Lenchantin was not just comfortable in the band but holding her own. I still like The Pixies in their new lineup and I still like Lenchantin in her post-Pixies trajectory...but I do wonder what could've been! But I digress. This album on its own is a solid album with some cool sounds and guests and like a lot of her work with Zwan and Melissa Auf der Maur, it does get better with each listen.

For info on Triste

"I'll be lovin' you always

With a love that's true always

When the things you've planned

Need a helping hand

I'll understand

Always