Siouxsie
Mantaray
Decca

Many people say that once you walk down the corridors of gothylvania, you can never return. Apparently this supposition is true in the case of Siouxsie, who sounds like she’s still enduring some inner wo long after the Banshees disbanded (listen to the closing song, “Heaven And Alchemy” if you’re craving her vocalized misfortunes). To terribly oversimplify, Mantaray is distinctively Siouxsie; she commendably stays true to her patented vocals, with only a slight update in instrumental accompaniment. I couldn’t help but see this weird similarity between her choice of cover art and that of Bjorks Post album, although with crimson red in lieu of sugarcube raver pink. The intro track, “Into a Swan” is a strong opener – laced with rich digital backup and reverb, it’s probably one of the best songs on the record. On the other hand, the pounding “One Mile Below” is an excellent departure from the obvious dark & digital sound she relies on for most of the album. It’s almost as if she anticipated the aging of her audience by providing lounge-inspired songs strewn with the rapture of her sinister lyrics. Admirers of Siouxsie Sioux will definitely not want to ignore this album. – Kelly D. Williams, Mannerist Magazine

Category: Uncategorized, music   Tags: art