(Sioux Records)

Well, it makes no sense to review this release of Siouxsie and Budgie, because it is a "Gifthorse members only" CD, which is not available through any other source, than the official Creatures info service. "Murdering Mouth" is an otherwise unreleased livetrack from the same gig as the "Zulu" Live CD and has a certain Big Band touch. For fans of the Creatures and the voice of Siouxsie, this CD shouldn´t be missing in the collection. (A.P.)

THE CREATURES - Anima Animus (CD/Double 10")

(Sioux Records)

Well, I was a Siouxsie-Fan since I have heard the first time this wonderful voice and it was a pity, that the band split some time ago, but this did not mean, that we would never listen to this voice again. SIOUXSIE and BUDGIE reactivated their long running side-project (since 1981) THE CREATURES and released after a few singles this new album, the third one after 1983s "Feast" and the brilliant late 80s "Boomerang". Well, the musical style has changed, "Anima Animus" does not sound like a Siouxsie And The Banshees album, except of the vocals of course. After the dancefloor track "2nd Floor" as an opener, we hear a couple of very rhythmic tracks, but also some more quiet moments. Let me call it a kind of modern New Wave with dance-elements. Don´t exspect classivcal Wave hymns like "Dazzle", "Nightshift" or "Cascade", but explore the new sound of two people, who influenced the whole Gothic/Wave-scene more than most of the other great bands, which are called "classic" today. Try to accept the development of SIOUXSIE and BUDGIE and you will find a wonderful pop-album, which explodes in the forthcoming classic track "Exterminating Angel", beside "Pluto Drive" from "Boomerang" the best ever CREATURES song (and it is great, listening to SIOUXSIE´s voice singing "enough is enough I wanna fuck it up"). "Anima Animus" has been released as normal CD (in silver slip case), limited Double 10" (in gatefold cover) and in a special japanese edition with two bonus tracks. If you have the chance to see THE CREATURES live on stage somewhere, you should not miss it, they do a really good and powerful performance (with two guest musicians). I think, we have to count on SIOUXSIE in the next years, so don´t miss this chapter, the next one could sound very different! (A.P.)