Sunday, 15 March 2020

Kaleidoscope


After Join Hands, guitarist John McKay and drummer Kenny Morris departed the Banshees, leaving the band at a crossroads. Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin elected to soldier on with ex-Slits drummer Budgie and two guitarists, ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones and John McGeoch of Magazine as guest Banshees. Despite the personnel upheaval, the result is a surprisingly strong record: Kaleidoscope. While a number of the songs here are still dark-hued and feature bleak lyrics, they are made very palatable by extraordinarily imaginative production values featuring intricate synthesizer-flecked arrangements; psychedelic touches in "Christine," spaceship synthesizer swoops in "Tenant," and rhythmic camera clicks in "Red Light" all enliven their respective songs. Sound quality here is lighter and much clearer than on previous releases. Sioux's singing shows noticeable improvement here, still tuneless at times but also exhibiting more range and subtlety than previously. The song "Hybrid," a Joy Division-style number, shows her vocals running the gamut from primitive to inspired. Other highlights include the galloping, vibrant up-tempo number "Skin," the spooky and atmospheric "Lunar Camel," the medium-tempo rocker "Trophy," and the punky vocalise "Clockface." Kaleidoscope was a make-or-break album for Siouxsie and the Banshees, and happily the band came through strongly.


Ripped from the 2006 remastered and expanded edition to FLAC

Siouxsie And The Banshees; Kaleidoscope

1.      Happy House
2.      Tenant
3.      Trophy
4.      Hybrid
5.      Clockface
6.      Lunar Camel
7.      Christine
8.      Desert Kisses
9.      Red Light
10.   Paradise Place
11.   Skin
12.   Christine (Warner Chappell Demo)
13.   Eve White/Eve Black (Warner Chappell Demo)
14.   Arabia (Lunar Camel) (Warner Chappell Demo)
15.   Sitting Room (Unreleased Track) (Warner Chappell Demo)
16.   Paradise Place (Warner Chappell Demo)
17.   Desert Kisses (Polydor Demo)
18.   Hybrid (Polydor Demo)
19.   Happy House (Polydor Demo)
20.   Israel (7” A-Side)

Look out for more from T’Banshees here

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9 comments:

  1. Fabio D.16 March 2020 at 01:53

    My second favourite Banshees album after JuJu.
    Not a great remaster.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AJ16 March 2020 at 16:34

      I have many second favourite Siouxsie albums after JuJu

      Delete
    2. Fabio D.16 March 2020 at 17:35

      I know, I know...

      Delete
  2. Anonymous16 March 2020 at 03:13

    Many years ago myself and two friends would go for long drives just to relax, chillout and talk about whatever. We always had music playing in the background, and I remember the song Christine was always played since we were all fans of Siouxsie & the Banshees and this song in particular. One of my buddies is no longer with us, a victim of cancer, so this album reminds me of my lost friend and the good times we had listening to a song about a strawberry girl named Christine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AJ16 March 2020 at 16:36

      my condolences for the loss of your friend, but YAY for the strawberry girl, Christine and all those memories

      Delete
  3. Fabio D.16 March 2020 at 15:33

    Ausgang - Manipulate

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qGk5B-xfVe4gsiarQBOV3759b0kti4o_/view?usp=drivesdk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AJ16 March 2020 at 16:37

      I haven't seen Ausgang mentioned in a long, long time

      Delete
  4. Anonymous3 June 2023 at 12:11

    This is probably my favourite Siouxsie & The Banshees album though I'll have to do some re-listening to a couple to be sure. Many thanks!

    Brian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AJ6 June 2023 at 10:46

      favourite siouxsie album is always changing depending upon my mood...or how many different copies of each album I own, or if I've just purchased a new remaseded edition...etc. Today I think it might be Dreamhouse...or Join Hands if the feckin clouds don't dispearse later today

      Delete

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