Nocturne (Siouxsie and the Banshees album)

Background

The Banshees had already performed live with Smith on guitar in September and October 1979, when he and his band the Cure served as tour support for the Banshees. A friendship had started at the time between the members of the Cure and the Banshees. In late 1982, when guitarist John McGeoch left the band prior to the A Kiss in the Dreamhouse tour, Steven Severin asked Smith to join the band for the British and European tour. In 1983, the band toured in Japan for the second time in less than a year and also visited Australia and New Zealand. With the September 1983 release of the "Dear Prudence" single, Smith became an official member of the Banshees; a few weeks later, they recorded Nocturne in London.

Reception

Nocturne was retrospectively hailed by critics. AllMusic said the album "serves as an excellent, no-nonsense introduction to the band's music for neophytes, while fans of the group will appreciate the tight, gutsy, stripped-down performances," also describing it as "top-notch". In 2013, the album was included in The Quietus' list of its writers' 40 favourite live albums. Julian Marszalek wrote: "Nocturne stands as both a representation of where they were at that point in their career and their status as an incredible live band. Be it Budgie's precise and muscular rhythms, Steven Severin's flanged bass, Siouxsie's commanding presence or Robert Smith's interpretation of other guitarists' material, the performance is magnificent and convincing throughout. By cherry picking their finest material, Nocturne was – and still is – a kind of alternate Greatest Hits that acts as a gateway to their kaleidoscopic world".

Track listing

All songs by Siouxsie and the Banshees except * by Sioux & Severin and ** by Lennon & McCartney.

1. "Israel" (6:45)
2. "Dear Prudence" ** (3:55)
3. "Paradise Place" * (4:28)
4. "Melt!" (3:48)
5. "Cascade" (4:35)
6. "Pulled to Bits" (4:03)
7. "Night Shift" (6:27)
8. "Sin in My Heart" (3:31)
9. "Slowdive" (4:18)
10. "Painted Bird" (3:56)
11. "Happy House" * (4:39)
12. "Switch" (6:35)
13. "Spellbound" (4:31)
14. "Helter Skelter" ** (3:42)
15. "Eve White/Eve Black" * (2:58)
16. "Voodoo Dolly" (8:42)

Live performances of "Head Cut" and "Running Town" from the 1 October show were not included on the release of Nocturne, but in December 1983, a double A-side 7" vinyl single featuring both tracks was given away as a Christmas gift to members of the band's fan club, The File. To date, these Nocturne performances of "Head Cut" and "Running Town" have not been released in any other format.

DVD

1. "Israel"
2. "Cascade"
3. "Melt!"
4. "Pulled to Bits"
5. "Night Shift"
6. "Sin in My Heart"
7. "Painted Bird"
8. "Switch"
9. "Eve White/Eve Black"
10. "Voodoo Dolly"
11. "Spellbound"
12. "Helter Skelter"

DVD Bonus

1. Bonus 1: Play at Home ( a 45-minute show broadcast on Channel 4, also featuring the Creatures and the Glove)
2. Bonus 2: Old Grey Whistle Test
3. Bonus 3: "Dear Prudence" (promotional film)

Personnel