Music Express (September '91)

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Superstition

Geffen

Since forming more than a decade ago, the British alternative band Siouxsie & The Banshees has always been a little perplexing. Songs like "Hong Kong Garden," "Christine," "Slowdive" and their cover of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" showed flashes of brilliance, and were tantalizingly close to a union of musical mysticism and post punk. At the same time, stunning live performances solidified the band's cult status. Each album held out the promise of better things to come, but despite their accomplishments the Banshees have continued to fall just shy of this musical synthesis. One now wonders what direction they will take next. Superstition helps to unravel the mystery. With the highly appealing "Kiss Them For Me" surging in popularity and "Cry" poised for chart penetration, the band seems set to enter the mainstream. But the rest of the album tends to serve as window dressing; exercises in style over substance. Mood pieces like "The Ghost In You" and "Softly" are more tedious than serene. Only "Silver Waterfalls" delivers the goods with ominous guitar stylings and the ghostly ambience of Siouxsie's vocals. Other tracks reflect the album's propensity for superfluous pop. While progress may have been made in terms of accessibility, the band members have failed to cultivate their creative talents. Regrettably, the Banshees are not aging as well as they might.

A.M. **1/2