Released 8 June 1984 Length 44:15 Hyæna
(1984) Tinderbox
(1986) Release date 8 June 1984 | Recorded 1983-1984 Language English Artist Siouxsie and the Banshees Label Geffen Records | |
 | ||
Producer Siouxsie and the Banshees
Mike Hedges Genres Post-punk, Gothic rock, Neo-psychedelia Similar Siouxsie and the Banshees albums, Post-punk albums | ||
Siouxsie the banshees hy na 1984
Hyæna is the sixth studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1984. The opening track, "Dazzle", featured strings played by a 27-piece orchestra called the "Chandos Players"; it was scored from a tune that Siouxsie Sioux composed on piano. Hyæna is the only studio album that guitarist Robert Smith of The Cure composed and recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Contents
In the United States, Hyæna was the first Banshees album to be released on a major label – Geffen Records. Prior to the release of the album, "Dear Prudence" became the band's biggest hit in the UK, reaching No. 3 in September of the previous year. The song was intended to be a stand-alone single in Europe, and as it was not issued as a single in North America, it was added to the track listing of the American version of Hyæna.
Hyæna was reissued, remastered and expanded in 2009.
Critical reception and legacy
The album was mainly well received upon release. Melody Maker wrote: "Parts of it are so wistfully carefree that it's impossible not to credit Robert Smith as the talisman – his irreverence seems to course through everything. 'Take Me Back' is the Banshees rollicking like some primitive jazz combo drunk on the Good Lord's wine. On 'Belladonna', Smith's liquid guitar relaxes Sioux to the extent that she drops a few masks to reveal her vulnerability. When the siren sings 'daylight devours your unguarded hours', she's illuminating her own predicament so acutely it surely can't be coincidence. 'Dazzle', too, is naively daring: Siouxsie's voice, framed alone against the firmament of strings. It could be Lloyd Webber's Cats or something by Vaughn Williams. You can get impressed, wrapped up and lost in this'".
The album received very favourable retrospective reviews. AllMusic critic Stephen Cook gave a 4.5-star rating to Hyæna and wrote: "The emphasis here is on layered arrangements and pop tunes disguised as art-house production numbers ("Dazzle"); tasteful horn and keyboard parts expand the group's guitar-dominated sound and provide Siouxsie with an airy and dreamlike backdrop in which to fully display her considerable vocal talents". When the album was reissued, The Quietus said: "[It was] their most experimental work, Smith's presence is keenly felt on the disciplined execution of the grandiose "Dazzle" or the starkly seductive "Swimming Horses". But the real treasures were buried deep within the album. The lysergic Spaghetti Western twang of "Bring Me The Head of the Preacher Man" is evocative in its execution while the densely epic "Blow The House Down" finds Smith indelibly stamping his mark on the track courtesy of some his finest guitar work".
Hyæna was namechecked by Brett Anderson, the singer of Suede. James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers hired producer Hedges because he loved the sound on lead single "Swimming Horses". Bradfield stated: "Swimming Horses' by the Banshees – what a fucking record that is! [...] I remember thinking 'You really care about that record. I'm gonna have to chase that record down." He also mentioned the importance of the drums: "I loved [...] Banshees records where everything starts with the drums".
Track listing
All lyrics written by Siouxsie Sioux, except where noted; all music composed by Siouxsie and the Banshees.
The two "Baby Piano" tracks are, respectively, a short piano demo of "Dazzle" and the string backing to the album version of the song.
Personnel
Songs
1Dazzle5:30
2We Hunger
3Take Me Back3:03