Siouxsie & The Banshees: Siouxsie Sioux (vocals); Robert Smith (guitar, keyboards); Steven Severin (keyboards, bass); Budgie (drums, marimba, percussion).
Additional personnel: Robin Carter (woodwind), Chandos Players (strings).
Although Siouxse & the Banshees had been enjoying chart success back home in England since almost the very beginning of their career in the late 70's, the group had yet to make much of an impact on the American record buying public (despite releasing such exceptional goth classics as 1980's KALEIDOSCOPE and 81's JUJU). The band's seventh release overall, 84's HYAENA, was the first Banshees release to make an impact on the U.S. charts - even though it was far from a blockbuster stateside. The band had caused quite a stir amongst their longtime diehard fans when they covered a Beatles song ("Helter Skelter") on their '83 release, NOCTURNE, and instead of trying to extinguish the conflict, they went right back in and recorded another Beatles tune, "Dear Prudence" for HYAENA. Other highlights include the orchestrated album opener, "Dazzle," as well as the tunes "We Hunger" and "Swimming Horses." Cure guitarist Robert Smith guests again with the Banshees (something he'd been doing throughout the band's career), lending his six string talents throughout HYAENA.
- Format: Vinyl
- Genre: Pop
