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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By michael_m
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
After the loss of guitarist and drummer at the beginning of the 80's, I was one of many who sat on the edge of my seat whilst Siouxsie and Steve Severin looked for replacements. Then there was the news that there was an album coming out...
There are tracks with no guitar, tracks with Siouxsie or Steve Severin playing guitar, tracks with sessions guitarists - it was an album borne of confusion, improvisation and perseverance. It spawned their most commercial material to date (Happy House, Christine), but probably some of the most subtly dark material that they have ever produced. An album of hidden menace rather than the overtly dark songs of the earlier albums, it both showcased the drumming talents of new drummer Budgie and let the world see the growing musical abilities of Siouxsie and Steve Severin.
Never have synthesizers been so dark; never has understated guitar been so in your face; and never has a vocal been so midway between whispered and sung as on this album. Like dark albums? Like eclectic new wave? Like good music? Buy it!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Charlie
Format:Audio CD
Given that my previous copy of 'Kaleidoscope' was a slightly scratchy 2nd hand vinyl copy bought in the mid 80s, I was pleased to see the re-release of the Banshees earlier albums. 'Kaleidoscope' was the first that marked the evolution away from their punk roots, and into a more skewed art-rock band. The lead track 'Happy House' and original side two opener 'Christine' are the best known and most accessible tracks on the album. Overall, however, the feeling is much more stripped down and lighter than 'The Scream' or 'Join Hands', especially during the first half of the album. Anyone expecting the wall of noise generated by much of the first two albums will be surprised by the calm, but menacing sound of much of this one. The exception to the lighter tone comes in the final two tracks, where Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols lent some crushing guitar on 'Paradise Place' and 'Skin', the original album closer. The extras come mainly in the form of five early demo versions for Warner Chappell, three later ones for Polydor. My main problem lies with the Warner Chappell demos, which are minimalist to the extent of being unlistenable in a couple of cases. The Polydor demos are more interesting in showing how 'Desert Kisses', 'Hybrid' and 'Happy House' sounded in earlier evolutions. The package is rounded off with the post-album single 'Israel', a much louder almost anthemic song which almost acts as a bridge into the next album Juju. Overall a decent re-release of a very good album, although you'll probably skip through most of the bonus tracks.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Clumsey
Format:Audio CD
As a big big Banshees fan, this album is one I return to time and time again. It's a shame that this band so often get labled with the dreaded 'goth' tag, as the sound (as on so much of their other stuff)goes unrivalled by their contemporaries.
Post punk, the Banshees slipped up a gear to knock out stuff like this...... dark though inspiring, melodic but challenging. Siouxsie's trademark vocal swoops and swirls through a variety of sinister backdrops and experimental arrangements.
Highlight for me?? Gotta be 'desert kisses'.... sounds like a twisted take on long lost desire.... with some kind of choir thrown in for good measure....
This album has stood the test of time well, a testament to this accessable but experimental album.
Post punk, the Banshees slipped up a gear to knock out stuff like this...... dark though inspiring, melodic but challenging. Siouxsie's trademark vocal swoops and swirls through a variety of sinister backdrops and experimental arrangements.
Highlight for me?? Gotta be 'desert kisses'.... sounds like a twisted take on long lost desire.... with some kind of choir thrown in for good measure....
This album has stood the test of time well, a testament to this accessable but experimental album.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Mood Album
With the joint departure of Drummer Kenny Morris and Guitar Player John McKay, the Banshees could have ended long before they had even begun, but fortunatley they found the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by JJKelsall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Banshees at their very best
Siouxsie and the Banshees have been one of my favourite bands for many years,I saw them about 6 times,with various different line-ups during the first few years of their... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Bobby Shafto
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bland
A pale ghost of the original vinyl, devoid of any soul.
Some modern remixes work, this one doesn't.
Some modern remixes work, this one doesn't.
Published on 18 April 2011 by Pilton
3.0 out of 5 stars
buy it on vinyl
This is one of my favourite albums. I have just sat thru the cd and am now very disappointed, it is a poor copy of the vinyl, it sounds drab and all the emotion of the vocals is... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2011 by chokesrule
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just great
I bought this record 25 years ago and lost it. Finally I bought it again and it's still just as great as 25 years ago. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2010 by Hey man
4.0 out of 5 stars
Transitional and experimental - The real Banshees have begun
Kaleidoscope is a very transitional and experimental album. Siouxsie and Severin regroup, adding Budgie and John McGeoch in what would be remembered as the classic Banshees line... Read more
Published on 8 April 2010 by Scott Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ice Madien at her Primitive best
A member of the 'Bromley' contingent, responsible for the birth of London's early punk explosion, Siouxsie Sioux was foremost a scenester, but by 1979 she was older and wiser in... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by Mr. Percy Frizelle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spacey Sioux
Along with 'Join Hands' this is my favourite of the Banshees' albums.
It's 'spacey' - 'sparse' & 'haunting' & as such is one for those quieter, slightly dark contemplative... Read more
It's 'spacey' - 'sparse' & 'haunting' & as such is one for those quieter, slightly dark contemplative... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Pagan Ronnie
4.0 out of 5 stars
A certain sound of banshees
Kaleidoscope was one of my first sioux lps to ever own and now the cd has some interesting unreleased stuff on it as well. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2009 by B. J. Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
ANOTHER MASTERPIECE !!
After their mediocre but all the same enjoyable sophomore effort ¨Join Hands¨, came this gem of a record. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2007 by JUAN MARTIN GABASTOU
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