Classic Albums Review: Kaleidoscope

The third album from Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees, Kaleidoscope is a refreshing, classic taste of British post-punk released originally in late 1980. Filled with colorful sounds and effects and some stellar guitar work, this eleven-track LP can satiate anyone’s desire for a weirder side of rock music.

Unlike their previous albums which featured a grittier, relatively straightforward style, the first two tracks present a smooth, almost psychedelic feel. Siouxsie Sioux’s matured songwriting skills and the imaginative usage of synths and bizarre production techniques combine to make a mesmerizing – if at times haunting – texture of sound. In particular, the tracks “Happy House” and “Hybrid” hook you in within the first four tracks of the album – there’s no escaping the unique guitar style of John McGeoch and the exquisite bass playing of Steven Severin. Then, out of nowhere, we get Steve Jones (former guitarist of the then-disbanded Sex Pistols) on the album’s fifth track, “Clockface.” Jones’ interestingly different guitar playing is also featured on the album’s last two tracks, “Paradise Place” and “Skin.” The first side of the album ends on a mediocre note, unfortunately. The almost entirely synth-based track “Lunar Camel” is decent at best, and only serves to reinforce the mind-bending style of the album as a whole.

Then the second side comes crashing in with the single “Christine-” which is perhaps the jewel of Kaleidoscope. Relentless bass and guitar parts filled with Siouxsie’s entrancing vocals make this track hard to dislike. The next two tracks, “Desert Kisses” and “Red Light” are intriguing tracks; both are electronic/synth mixes that achieve the right balance between too artsy and easy listening. The album concludes with the caustic, aggressive track “Skin.”

While the album can be lyrically challenging at times, and the universal usage of synthesizers can turn some people off, Kaleidoscope is by and large a fantastic album – post-punk and music in general. With few blemishes and a distinct musical style, this Banshees album is worth a listen for any music fan.