New releases: New Peter Gabriel, Nitzer Ebb; live Pet Shop Boys; Pixies, 808 State reissues

Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, reissues and/or box sets.

ARTIST: Peter Gabriel
RELEASE: Scratch My Back
BACKSTORY: For his first new album in more than seven years, Peter Gabriel delivers a collection of 12 sparse, orchestral covers of some of his favorite songs by the likes of Radiohead, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Arcade Fire and Neil Young. While the disc won’t be released until March in the U.S., it arrives this week in the U.K.
BUY IT: Scratch My Back via Amazon.co.uk

ARTIST: Pet Shop Boys
RELEASE: Pandemonium
BACKSTORY: Out this week in the U.K., this live CD/DVD concert film set was recorded Dec. 21 at London’s O2 Arena at the final show on the duo’s 2009 world tour. The album, which will get a U.S. release late next month, features 17 tracks from that night’s show, while the DVD includes the full 24, plus extra videos and audio commentary.
BUY IT: Pandemonium via Amazon.co.uk

ARTIST: Nitzer Ebb
RELEASE: Industrial Complex
BACKSTORY: The first first new album in 15 years from the reunited industrial/dance act went on sale last fall via major U.S. digital music outlets and at shows on the band’s ongoing tour. This week, though, the album — the group’s first new studio effort since 1995’s Big Hit — finally receives a commercial CD release, at least in the U.K.
BUY IT: Industrial Complex via Amazon.co.uk

See new releases from 808 State, Pixies and Bomb the Bass after the jump…

ARTIST: Bomb the Bass
RELEASE: Into the Dragon… Plus
BACKSTORY: DJ/producer Tim Simenon’s 1988 debut is reissued this week as a remastered disc featuring four bonus tracks: alternate mixes of “Don’t Make Me Wait,” “Megablast,” “Say a Little Prayer” and the iconic “Beat Dis,” the 1987 debut single that exploded onto the UK charts and helped launch DJ culture into the mainstream.
BUY IT: Into the Dragon… Plus via Amazon.com

ARTIST: Pixies
RELEASE: Pixies
BACKSTORY: This 2002 release featuring the nine demos from the band’s famous “Purple Tape” that weren’t used on Come On Pilgrim (including “Subbacultcha,” “Rock A My Soul,” “Broken Face,” “Here Comes Your Man” and more) is reissued in a limited-edition run of 1,500 vinyl copies: 500 each in purple, orange and green 180-gram vinyl.
BUY IT: Pixies via Amazon.com

ARTIST: 808 State
RELEASE: 808:90, ex:el
BACKSTORY: The first two expanded 2CD reissues of the Manchester acid-house outfit’s albums arrive this week, having been re-reissued with “restored” artwork and new packaging — and the same bonus tracks as the 2008 reissues of the same albums. Two more titles — 1993’s Gorgeous and 1997’s Don Solaris — are to follow this spring.
BUY IT: 808:90, ex:el via Amazon.co.uk