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THE
SINGLE OF THE WEEK (Also known as the kiss of life)
It's just as well that, in a week
of such abysmally grey dross, there is at least one saving grace - one
inspirational beacon in the mind-numbing darkness. In truth, I
hardly expected Siouxsie and her Banshees to prove my musical salvation,
what with all the 'Ice Queen' reputation and atonal bash and thrash that
they're supposed to go in for, but this was a revelation.
Goddammit, here was I expecting a screeching, torturous din, and instead
this is New Wave starkness and chop suey frivolity, the main theme being
tapped out in charming Chinese chimes. A sort of Siouxsie Wong
done right. Most important, the song's constructed in the
time-honoured tradition of all good singles - catchy, original
arrangement coupled with an irresistible sing-along chorus.
All their humming and hedging over
to sign or not to sign has thankfully proved worth the wait.
David Lewis
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Brash,
delirious, two chord, oriental wonder. An ode to a local Chinese
restaurant in Chiselhurst where Siouxsie and friends witnessed some of
the racial abuse dealt out to the owners. Was this
an anecdote to the bleakness of the forthcoming debut album? A stab at
commercialism? Yes & no. Who else could release a debut single where
the vocals end half way through and leave you with just the music for
the second half? Siouxsie sounds young, exuberant, fresh. What does it
mean? Nothing really, mainly just a play on words. And to accompany this
pop ditty we have Voices on the flip. Stark, guitar driven, grating,
Siouxsie's voice a mere instrument, the music washes over you in
abrasive waves. It's rumoured that if a pub wanted to get rid of it's
hangers on at closing time, then putting Voices on the Jukebox would do
the trick. The cover, who is the mysterious woman? It's certainly not
Siouxsie. It's an uncomfortable image, an oblique reference to China? To
misogyny? On of the Banshees many 'pop' moments. Pop music at it's
best.
