Xiu Xiu’s ERASERHEAD | An Industrial And Modern Surrealist Triumph

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On the back of director David Lynch’s recent passing, Xiu Xiu embark on a new world tour that celebrates the 1977 film ‘Eraserhead‘

Of course, Xiu Xiu are no strangers to paying tribute to David Lynch’s works. In 2016, they released ‘Xiu Xiu Plays The Music Of Twin Peaks‘, where they reassembled classic ‘Twin Peaks‘ numbers with some added electronic abrasiveness.

Like that release, the ‘Eraserhead‘ tour strikes a perfect balance of capturing the essence of the original work, whilst injecting Xiu Xiu’s own signature zaniness and surrealism into the mix. Unlike the ‘Twin Peaks‘ recordings though, which portray individual characters and key moments of the TV show, the ‘Eraserhead‘ tour is a fluid continuous piece that serves to represent the world of the film – much like the industrial and muffled ambience of the original score.

To get into the ‘Eraserhead spirit’, the audience are immediately presented with all manner of surreal imagery through a black and white projection as Xiu Xiu take their seats. Depictions of decayed nature, deformed faces, and embryonic beings shadow over the duo, as they experiment like mad lab-doctors on the array of technical equipment in front of them.

Through the use of modular synths and hand-crafted instruments, an assortment of scratchy animalistic shrieks and unsettling ambience is slowly set upon the audience. An uneasy sense of ebb and flow is created as the black and white film and experimental sounds develop together, aided by unsettling effects from whistles and percussive instruments held up to the duo’s microphones.

Things also turn more eerie with the occasional vocal accompaniment. Angelo Seo’s shrilly repetitive shrieks of ‘SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP’, not only reference the film, but place the audience in a state of unease as the ever developing piece spirals into further unpredictability. The only discernible melodies within the carefully constructed wall of dystopia are the occasional folky motifs from a patch somewhat resembling a French accordion. Possibly this is representing the decaying agricultural remains and dying world that is being projected? Who knows.

The performance culminates in a recital of ‘In Heaven’ from the original soundtrack. In contrast to its initial creepy and unsettling tone, Jamie Stewart’s performance of the song is serene and calming. His signature ghostly and crooning delivery allows the audience some reprieve and escapism from the oppressive and pummelling industrial soundscape.

The world of ‘Eraserhead‘ is easily just as eerie and terrifying through Xiu Xiu’s modern and hyper-industrial lens. Much like the original work, the themes, world, and musical construction of Xiu Xiu is up for debate. Their masterful use of effects, ambiguous mixing and dissonant harmonies is an original yet very tasteful ode to Lynch’s overture film. It continues the legacy of the work after Lynch’s recent passing, and allows its cryptic nature to blossom and inspire new interpretations almost 50 years later. 

Listen to ‘Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1′ here:

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Catch Eraserhead X Xiu Xiu at the following:

Danaos Cinema, Athens – 2nd April
BRDCST 2026, Brussels – 4th April
Sala Upload, Barcelona – 8th April
Rewire 2026, Den Haag – 9th-12th April

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