Classic Albums - Peepshow.
Siouxsie and the Banshees had already released eight studio albums by 1988, but they were about to change direction. I realize this was a long time ago, far before I was even considering taking myself seriously and looking for a secondary education job. Still a classic none the less.
Since forming in 1976, the band had dabbled in a variety of different styles; the most notable of these had been Punk Rock and Goth. But with ‘Peepshow’ they wowed their fans by creating something entirely unique…
At the time, the British charts were taken up with a good deal of Dance, Acid House and Pop. The decade was drawing to a close and musicians were desperately trying to come up with new ideas and styles for the nineties. It seemed that the Avant-Garde/Alternative scene was also going through some changes and Siouxsie’s group were to be one of those at the forefront.
Instruments such as the accordion and cello had never been seen as ‘cool’ by Alternative rockers, so when Siouxsie and the Banshees included these on ‘Peepshow’ some fans became concerned. But their worries were soon swept away with the release of the first single, ‘Peek-a-Boo’. This was like the Gothic answer to House music and it received rave reviews from critics; Melody Maker described it as ‘quite the most astounding record of 1988’.
Two other great singles were to follow, ‘The Killing Jar’ and ‘The Last Beat of my Heart’. But the rest of the album’s tracks were just as good as the chart entries. None of the record’s ten songs wavered in terms of quality, but ‘Ornaments of Gold’ and ‘Carousel’ really did stand out as particularly impressive tracks.
‘Peepshow’ was an altogether dark and brooding blend of Pop with some truly disturbing imagery. It was certainly a new sound for the band, but the unmistakably sexy voice of Siouxsie and the distinctive Banshees guitars still made it instantly recognisable. The group had experimented with new styles once again and had emerged from the studio with a winner.
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