As the Pixies are not currently affiliated with a record label, they had the luxury of making their first new song available to fans around the globe at a low price and instantaneously, something that iTunes could easily provide. The Pixies plan to perform "Bam Thwok" at concerts on their current European and upcoming North American tour dates.

The music for "Bam Thwok" had its genesis in a chord progression that Deal had been toying with for a while, and the lyrics from an art book she found discarded on a city street a number of years ago while on tour. "From the handwriting, you could tell that this book must have belonged to a little kid," Deal recounts. "This kid had written a short story, a paragraph really, about a party that took place in another universe, about people and monsters that were partying together. That's what provided the inspiration for the lyrics." The song is a musical romp, and features a driving beat, searing guitar, and the whimsical chorus, "Love. Bang. Crash. Wakka, wakka, Bam Thwok." "It's a song about loving everyone," Deal added, "showing good will to everyone."

The Pixies - Deal (bass, vocals,) Frank Black (vocals, guitar), Joey Santiago (guitar), David Lovering (drums) - arranged and rehearsed the song at Santiago's home studio, which includes a 15-second carousel-esque organ solo performed and recorded many years ago by Santiago's father-in-law while he was doing missionary work in the Philippines. "That's a great piece of music," added Deal, "and it fits perfectly."

"'Bam Thwok' is a really good song," said Frank Black. "Recording it was a nice way for us to break the ice after twelve years. The recording process was very relaxed and it didn't feel like twelve years had passed."