Through The Looking Glass [LP]

Siouxsie & The Banshess: Siouxsie Sioux (vocals); John Carruthers (guitar); Steve Severin (bass); Budgie (drums). Additional personnel: Gini Ball (violin); Jocelyn Pook (viola); Martin McCarrick (cello, keyboards); Julie Aliss (harp); Martin Dobson (saxophone); Luke Tunney (trumpet); Peter Thorns (trombone). Recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2, London, England in August and September 1986. THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS is a collection of cover versions of the band's favorite songs. By the late 80's, most Siouxse & the Banshees fans must have realized by now to expect anything with a new release, after all, this was a band that could alternate between challenging psychedelic goth (HYAENA) and more melodic, pop-oriented material (TINDERBOX). So when the band decided to issue an album comprised entirely of cover songs by bands they admired, 1987's THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, it shouldn't have come as much of a shock. As expected, the band injects their own instantly identifiable sound into these rock classics, rarely ever simply covering the songs note for note. Highlights include inspired re-readings of the Sparks' "This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us," Iggy Pop's "The Passenger," Television's "Little Johnny Jewel," and probably the two most surprising selections of the whole set, the Bob Dylan/Band nugget "This Wheel's on Fire" and the track from Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK - "Trust in Me."