Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Carliertwo (talk | contribs) at 22:46, 17 June 2015 (No source in the infobox, no wp:GWAR). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1980 by record label Polydor. The album was preceded by the hit singles "Happy House" and "Christine".

Background and music

Following the departure of two band members, the band regrouped and redirected their sound for their third record. Departing from their previous work, the Banshees incorporated synthesizers and drum machines for the first time. They particularly experimented in electronic music on a couple of tracks: the electro-dance minimalism "Red Light" and the atmospheric synth-based piece "Lunar Camel". Kaleidoscope also marks the debut of guitarist John McGeoch and new drummer Budgie.

Release and critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Melody Maker	favourable

Kaleidoscope was released on 1 August 1980 by record label Polydor. The album peaked at number 5 in the UK Albums Chart, the highest position the band has achieved to date.

The reception from critics was positive. Paulo Hewitt of Melody Maker's Paulo Hewitt praised the album, and qualified "Paradise Place" and "Skin" as "classic Banshee pieces. Hypnotic, relentless and incisive, both feature Steve Jones on guitar, revealing a hitherto unknown side of the (S)ex-Pistol". Their work on the singles "Happy House" and "Christine" was also hailed shortly after their release by peers The Jam: singer-songwriter Paul Weller said that both songs used "some unusual sounds", while drummer Rick Buckler qualified them as "innovative".

In his retrospective review, David Cleary of AllMusic described Kaleidoscope as a "strong record" with "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".

Legacy

Kaleidoscope had later an impact on several critically acclaimed musicians. The Cure frontman Robert Smith cited the album to Steve Sutherland in 1985 when describing The Head on the Door: "It reminds me of the Kaleidoscope album, the idea of having lots of different sounding things, different colours."

Johnny Marr from The Smiths stated on BBC Radio 2 in February 2008 about McGeoch's contribution on "Happy House":

What is it about "Happy House" from a guitar player point of view. For start, it's modern. It's not going in any of these creaky or rock'n'roll aspects to it and it still sounded like the Banshees, or even more so. That's when I really began to become a fan of John McGeoch. It was a extra bonus for me. They had got a great guitar player who had left another band and came in. Not surprisingly, that to me was a very good scenario. I've always liked that. It was like get John's best on the guitar.

Santigold said that she took inspiration from the song "Red Light": "'My Superman' is an interpolation of a Siouxsie Sioux song, 'Red Light'", she explained. "I love her song and I love this song." Santigold also later sampled another song off Kaleidoscope, "Lunar Camel", on her Top Ranking remix album. Jeremy Jay covered the same song on his Airwalker EP.

Kaleidoscope was also praised by the singer of Suede, Brett Anderson.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Siouxsie Sioux, except "Red Light" and "Christine", by Steven Severin; all music is composed by Sioux and Severin, except "Trophy", by Sioux, Severin and John McGeoch

Personnel

Siouxsie and the Banshees

• Siouxsie Sioux – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, finger cymbals, camera, melodica, production
• Steven Severin – bass guitar, electric guitar, vocals, piano, synthesizer, electric sitar, production
• Budgie – drums, harmonica, bass guitar, percussion, production
• John McGeoch – guitar, saxophone, Farfisa organ, sitar, string synth, production

Additional personnel

• Steve Jones – lead guitar on "Clockface", "Paradise Place" and "Skin"

Technical

• Nigel Gray – production

References

1. ^ Cleary, David. "Kaleidoscope – Siouxsie and the Banshees". AllMusic. AllRovi. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
2. ^ Hewitt, Paulo (26 July 1980). "Siouxsie's Sketches". Melody Maker. Retrieved 2 September 2012. (subscription required)
3. "Siouxsie & the Banshees [uk charts]". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
4. "Desert Islands Disc: The Jam List Their Current Favourite Records". Flexipop (1). 1980. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
5. Sutherland, Steve (17 August 1985). "A Suitable Case for Treatment". Melody Maker.
6. "Spellbound: The Story of John McGeoch (4/6)". YouTube. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
7. Hresko, Lisa (28 April 2008). "All That Glitters Is Santogold". CMJ. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
8. "Some Current Fascinations". brettanderson.co.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2011.

• Use dmy dates from September 2013
• Pages with empty short description
• 1980 albums
• Siouxsie and the Banshees albums
• Polydor Records albums
• Albums produced by Nigel Gray
• Post-punk albums