Albini’s post-Big Black career

Following Big Black’s breakup, Albini formed and fronted Rapeman from 1987 to 1989 and Shellac from 1992 until his death in 2024. He also began work as a recording engineer , working with artists such as Slint , the Pixies , the Breeders , Pegboy , Urge Overkill , the Jesus Lizard , the Wedding Present , Superchunk , PJ Harvey , Nirvana , Bush , and Page and Plant . Some of his most well-known recordings include the Pixies’ Surfer Rosa (1988), Nirvana’s In Utero (1993), Bush’s Razorblade Suitcase (1996), and Page and Plant’s Walking into Clarksdale (1998). In 1997 he opened his own recording studio , Electrical Audio , in Chicago. Albini’s recording style was characterized by the use of vintage microphones placed strategically around the performance room, keeping vocals very low in the mix , and using few special effects. He was also known for recording almost any artist who requested his services (usually at very low rates for artists on independent labels but deliberately charging high amounts to artists on major record labels), disliking being credited on the albums he works on (insisting on being credited as a recording engineer rather than a producer , if at all), and refusing to take royalties for his work (calling them “an insult to the band”).