Siouxsie And The Banshees were media darlings in the early stages of their career, with almost weekly updates on their activities in the New Musical Express and Sounds in the late 1970s. Like several bands of that era, I quite liked them, but not enough to buy an album, until the first collection of singles was released.
Their first single, "Hong Kong Gardens", was their breakthrough, being an epic mix of punk with an oriental guitar riff, and written about their local Chinese takeaway. The subsequent follow-ups seemed to be mostly tuneless noise that magically broke out into memorable hooks, with "Playground Twist" perhaps being the best example.
As their career progressed, so did their musical development, moving away from being Sex Pistols inspired punks to Goths. "Christine" was almost mainstream, although the final three songs on this collection, whilst more polished and less abrasive, moved backed to their post-punk roots.
The track selection for this compliation was slightly confusing as the "Mittageisen" single, a German language version of "Metal Postcard" from their debut album "The Scream" and which reached number 47 in the UK Chart was omitted, but album tracks "Mirage" and "Love In A Void" were included. Aside from this, the tracks were in chronological order.
"Hong Kong Garden" remains the song most commonly associated with early Siouxsie and the Banshees and remains their highest UK chart single apart from "Dear Prudence" in 1983. Not many punk songs had the intro played on a xylophone !
The excellent "Mirage" is next, which has perhaps the best tune of the Banshees early material. "My limbs are like palm trees swaying in the breeze, my body's an oasis to drink from as you please. I'm not seeing what I'm meant to believe in, your non-excuse for a human being". The word "being" was sung in the style of Johnny Rotten and the guitar reminds me of Public Image.
I loved the guitar riff and bass intro on "The Staircase ( Mystery )". It has a gentle plucked guitar middle break before the guitar riff returns, and there is some jerky piano near the end. "Slide down the banister, take the escalator".
"Playground Twist" is perhaps my favourite Bashees song with a grinding guitar, bells, a wailing vocal, a saxophone break and children's laughter at the end. "Roll the dice, you three blind mice. Do you ever see such a thing in your life ?" & "Hanging, hanging, hanging, Hanging out at party games, dancing in the shadows. Up and down on the see-saw, balancing the scales, Balancing the scales, you're drunk, you're drunk, Yet you're balancing the scales"
"Love In A Void" is perhaps their most punk song, with a shrill vocal. It was never a favourite of mine.
Side two opens with "Happy House", which has a slow intro but a memorable guitar motif, and whistling in the outro.
"Christine" has a strummed acoustic guitar and driving bass, and is another one of my favourite Banshees' songs. "Christine the strawberry girl, banana split lady"
"Israel" has an ethereal feel and a Welsh choir low down in the mix during the middle break. The guitar and drumming are nice but although apparently a popular track with Banshees' fans, it's not a great tune.
"Spellbound" has a slow, gentle intro but builds up into traditional Banshees beat.
"Arabian Nights" has fantastic Cure-like bass lines and an impressive guitar for the middle break with hup, hup, hup vocals. "I heard a rumour, what have you done to her ? Myriad lights, they said I'd be impressed. Arabian nights, at your primitive best"
Listening to this collection again, I was surprised by how good these songs were, they had clearly stood the test of time !
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Hong Kong Garden ( 1978 - No 7 )
2. Mirage
3. The Staircase ( Mystery ) ( 1979 - No 24)
4. Playground Twist ( 1979 - No 28 )
5. Love In A Void
1. Happy House ( 1980 - No 17 )
2. Christine ( 1980 - No 22 )
3. Israel ( 1980 - No 41 )
4. Spellbound ( 1981 - No 22 )
5. Arabian Nights ( 1981 - No 32 )
UK Chart Position : 21
