Siouxsie And The Banshees - Fireworks (Polydor)

Starts with an orchestra tuning up and ends with the sound of some fairly expensive rockets going off. In between you get the usual swirling Siouxsie sound, long on repetition but short on tune, eminently suitable for haunting houses etc. Probably recorded in a bell tower. Quite likeable really. (David Hepworth, Smash Hits, May 27, 1982)

Siouxsie And The Banshees - Cities In Dust (Wonderland/Polydor)

Looks like Sioux has spent her absence from the music scene on her hols in Greece - judging by the rather tasteless picture of an ancient couple bonking on the record. Our travel correspondent says that this is the sort of thing you get on beer mats in dodgy tavernas out there along with lecherous waiters. The song itself has an unusually catchy, funky feel, but the usual lyrical concerns of the Banshees are present and correct - y' know, dirt, dust, decay, death, that kind of thing. Well, they couldn't write about beaches and suntans now could they? (Karen Swayne, No 1, October 19, 1985)

The Banshees have returned from a sojourn in Italy inspired, apparently, by Pompeii (ancient city preserved forever by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago). The song moves in early Simple Minds territories and, surprisingly enough, the Jim Kerr-type vocal inflections work well. Anyway, I love Siouxsie Sue. (Paul King, Smash Hits, October 23, 1985)

Still possessed of the finest sorceress caterwaul in the business, Siouxsie briefly gloats and croaks over the demise of a civilisation as her fellow statues stir up a scattering of underground sound effects. Meanwhile, the rest of the world wonders where the dip and drive of "Dazzle" has been buried, and waits for the next earthquake. A private record, to be bought for old times' sake, for the lupine massacre of sound on the B-side, and for the sake of a little sanity amid the surrounding musical insipidness. (Roger Morton, Record Mirror, October 19, 1985)

Siouxsie And The Banshees - Swimming Horses (Polydor)

Here is the opportunity for Mike Read to prove he's quite a liberal sort of guy after all. "He gives birth to swimming horses," sings Siouxsie, and you don't have to be too imaginative to realise we're talking about Frankie's little come hither. Musically this is a much lighter touch for the Banshees. None of those psychedelic guitars - just a simple, lilting refrain. So go on, Mike, give it a go! (Paul Simper, No 1, March 17, 1984)

I hope this grows on me because I don't think much of it up to now. It's got a sort of staccato piano rhythm backing Siouxsie's powerfully gliding voice and it's all punctuated by a scratchy echoey guitar, much like the one on "Israel". I suppose it fits in well on the new album, but by itself I think it's one of their weakest singles yet. And for Heaven's sake don't ask me what "he gives birth to swimming horses" means. (Peter Martin, Smash Hits, March 15, 1984)

When it first came on I thought - Siouxsie and the Banshees, piano? Nah, it can't be. But it was. Haven't got much to say about this one. They're probably the sort of band that beat you up if you slag them off! (Roy Hay [Culture Club], Record Mirror, March 17, 1984)

Siouxsie And The Banshees - Candyman (Wonderland)

Taken from the next album Tinderbox, this finds Siouxsie and Co back in classic form. It has all the eerieness and menace you could want and for once Siouxsie is actually singing (as opposed to intoning in key). All those hours with the vocal coach have finally paid off. Chalk up another Banshees hit. (Pat Thomas, No 1, March 1, 1986)

Grab a look at that cover. Did they get Paul King to model for it? Will Woolworths allow it into their chain stores? Actually there are very few things in my life more painful than having to listen to the vocal contortions of Souse. Very fast, very unpleasant. Enough said. (Robin Smith, Record Mirror, March 1, 1986)

Siouxsie's not a 'singer' like Aretha Franklin but she makes great use of what she's got and she always sounds exciting. She sings with a lot of sex - that's what I like. This is a great Banshees record. Obviously, they've got a bit of a 'formula' but I like their sound. I used to go and see them quite a lot when I was younger, when I was a punk rocker. Single Of The Fortnight. (Dave Gahan, Smash Hits, February 26, 1986)