NOCTURNE is a document of the classic early "80s line-up captured live at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983. Without overdubs (as the album insert proudly proclaims), the Banshees manage to convey a multi-faceted sense of exoticism and menace, often within the same song. Classics like "Israel" and "Painted Bird" even seem more compelling stripped of the studio gloss and multi-tracking of Siouxsie"s voice. Some songs ("Spellbound" and "Pulled to Bits") lose a little something in the translation, however. Fortunately the band seems to be enjoying itself (even without any stage patter from Souxsie), especially on the raucous Beatles covers "Helter Skelter" and "Dear Prudence." Perhaps not the best introduction for new fans, but a great recording of a band at its peak.Reissued May 19th 2009.Track List:1 Israel2 Dear Prudence3 Paradise Place4 Melt!5 Cascade6 Pulled To Bits7 Night Shift8 Sin In My Heart9 Slowdive10 Painted Bird11 Happy House12 Switch13 Spellbound14 Helter Skelter15 Eve White Eve Black16 Voodoo Dolly
English