Siouxsie And The Banshees - Juju
Original Release Date
1981
Release Information
UK LP 1981 (Polydor - POLS 1034)
US LP 1981 (PVC - PVC 8903)
US LP+7" (PVC - PVC 8903/PVC 1001)
UK CD 2006 (Polydor/Universal Music Catalogue - 983 691-4)
1 Spellbound 3:17
2 Into The Light 4:13
3 Arabian Knights 3:05
4 Halloween 3:41
5 Monitor 5:34
6 Night Shift 6:04
7 Sin In My Heart 3:37
8 Head Cut 4:22
9 Voodoo Dolly 7:12
CD Bonus Tracks
10 Spellbound (12" Mix) 4:43
11 Arabian Knights (12" Vocoder Mix) 3:09
12 Fireworks (Nigel Gray Version) 4:15
Chart Placings
UK Chart Hit: 7, 17 wksCredits
LP:
John McGeoch - guitar
Siouxsie Sioux - voice, guitar on Sin In My Heart
Steven Severin - bass guitar
Budgie - drums, percussion
Produced by Nigel Gray & Siouxsie And The Banshees
Recorded at Surrey Sound, March/April 1981
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Additional CD Credits:
'Fireworks' produced by Nigel Gray, recorded at Surrey Sound Studios, October 1981
Digitally remastered by Gary Moore at Universal Digital Mastering, London
Additional Credits
None yet
Reviews & Opinions
PUNKY GIBBON: JuJu retains the dark imagery but not dystopian, Ballardian feel of their previous three albums over the course of nine, occasionally slightly over-long tracks, further exploring new Middle Eastern themes on the singles 'Spellbound' and 'Arabian Knights', while 'Halloween' and 'Monitor' rank among their most sinister yet melodic numbers. The culmination of their "dark" period - for a band which maintained that it took its inspiration from thrillers and not horror movies there's an awful lot of horror movie stuff on this - and yet another very strong release.
GEOFFREY DEANE, SMASH HITS, JUNE 1981: To be honest, Siouxsie & Co. have never been my idea of a Saturday night out, though since John McGeoch and Budgie joined things do seem to have take a turn for the better. The songs contained here are much the same as ever, with the hammer horror lyrics recited by Sioux in her familiar high-priestess wail. If only they would realise how much more impressive they sound when they imprint their distinctive style on lighter pop songs rather than the heavier album material. Take a tip off one who knows and stick to the singles. (5 out of 10).
PAUL MORLEY, NME, 1981: The Banshees are a terrific vision, an exclusive attraction, a peak in entertainment. Their fourth LP - this far, their second best? - is a gliding, comfortless delivery of self-distrust, infatuation and fetishism. 'Juju' has an infernal quality: nothing majestic or mysterious but a kind of unawed unworldlinesss. The mistake is to imagine that Banshee words and images are intended to be profound and responsible, or brutally corrective. 'Juju' songs don't deal with dull matters, but with peculiar things in a taut and teasing manner.
BETTY PAGE, SOUNDS, 1981: Siouxsie Sioux, once ice maiden, now the witch, the soothsayer, the bringer if evil tidings... This is the soundtrack of the unknown. hinting darkly at black magic, witchery, murder, and death. After the relative calm (before the storm) and optimism of Kaleidoscope, the Banshees are wailing again, doom is at the door, creating what is hardly the sound of the summer but what is something intriguing, intense, brooding and powerfully atmospheric.
THE NEW MUSIC RECORD & TAPE GUIDE, 1987: Finally a full-fledged band again, the Banshees released the strong and satisfying Juju. Siouxsie 's voice had developed into a surprisingly subtle instrument, and the technical prowess brought by Budgie and McGeoch brought power and complexity to songs like 'Spellbound' and 'Arabian Knights'.
DAVE THOMPSON, ALTERNATIVE ROCK, 2000: All shrouded atmospherics, melancholy melodies, and doomy, gloomy, spooky lyrics, Juju is the prototypical Goth record, which every band in the genre have tried to equal. Few have. From the haunting opening 'Spellbound' to the soaring, swirling, Scream-esque 'Halloween', Juju evokes the darkness in all its forms. Siouxsie's vocals are a wonder, the rhythms pulse and pound, the guitar shudders and shakes. And if you're looking for Christine, she's nowhere to be found.
Additional Notes
The CD was also issued in a jewel case (Polydor, 984 351-2).
Images
UK LP 1981 (Polydor - POLS 1034). Click here for more
US LP+7" (PVC - PVC 8903/PVC 1001). Click here for more
US LP 1981 (PVC - PVC 8903). Click here for more
UK CD 2006 (Polydor/Universal Music Catalogue - 983 691-4). Digipak. Click here for more
