Shuddersome Soundscape #12: A Final Treat...or Trick

After a glorious several weeks of dark escapades and moonlit festivities, we have reached the end of the Spooky Season. Throughout this, I've enjoyed gifting you a menagerie of songs from different reaches of the subcultural music world. This week, we shall wrap up this series with a brief, final spotlight on a classic tune that encapsulates the theme of our ghoulish Soundscape. For a last hurrah, this is the aptly-named "Halloween" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. 


Like I said, I shall be brief.

Siouxsie and the Banshees, formed in London, England in 1976, originally rose to prominence as a unique presence in the punk scene. A major cause of this may have been their artful, experimental instrumentation and innovative guitar techniques, all of which earned them the additional title of "art rock." Their pivotal 1981 album Juju, from which our song comes, lent a largely influential hand to the flowering post-punk genre, the precursor to gothic rock. Although Siouxsie and the Banshees adamantly rejected their connection to this newer, spooky subculture, it is impossible to deny that the group's sound, visual style, lyrical themes, and dark sensibilities left an imprint on generations of goths to come.

With this weeks song, "Halloween," I bring this series to a close - at least, until next Spooky Season - with a reminder: if you keep a element of darkness in your life, hold on to what makes you unique, and every now and then give a kiss to the beasts that lurk in the shadows, then every day will truly be Halloween. 

Until next time,

Musically yours,

ClaraJKent

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