Some of the best Peel Sessions SATB ever did
Justin J. Dupre | Seattle, WA USA | 01/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just listen to Land's End, and you will hear what a remarkable band and recording came out of some of the Peel sessions. I am so thankful that this collection has come out, and in all of its remastered glory!"
Peel + Banshees = Essential
Brewzerr | On the fault line, CA | 01/31/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The world is definitely a less interesting place with the recent loss of John Peel. I own numerous "Peel Session" albums of various bands, and every single one of them either stands up evenly with it's artists' "official" recordings... or even surpasses them in quality. One thing they all seem to have in common is that the artists all seem to be enjoying themselves in the studio, and it shows on the recordings.
So here is the first Peel Session album I have purchased since the death of John Peel. It's another great testament to not only the exceptionally unique talents of the Banshees, but to the magic touch of Mr. Peel himself. These were taken from 4 different sessions that included 2 different band lineups between 1977 and 1981. The first two sessions are mostly material from the early singles and "The Scream", and come off as high-quality live versions of the songs.
The third session is from the "Join Hands" era of the Banshees... a very turbulent and troubled time for the band. These versions of the songs from that album, in my opinion, are superior to the original album. They retain their dark, abrasive mood, but with a much more passionate and optimistic energy driving them.
The fourth session is from the "Juju" era, often regarded as when the Banshees were at peak performance. Also included in these '81 sessions are a few songs that didn't make an appearance until 5 years later on "Tinderbox", and here they sound much more fresh and spontaneous. The version of "Land's End" here especially hits the right nerve and closes out this album perfectly.
I've never heard a Peel Session album I didn't like, and this one is even better than most of the others I've heard... not to mention it contains some rarities that any Banshees fan should be rabid to add to their collection. The superior versions of the "Join Hands" and "Tinderbox" songs alone are reason enough to buy this. Highly recommended."
But...
Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 04/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This very welcome package brings together all the sessions the Banshees recorded for the John Peel show, two before they had even signed a record deal, and all between 1977 and 1986. It once again demonstrates the small miracles regularly performed by the producers and studio engineers in the small radio studios at Maida Vale. Each session, usually comprising about four tracks, was recorded in a single day, generally as live with no more than a few minor overdubs, and often captures a sense of performance missing from the officially released versions.
Voodoo Dolly particularly benefits from this treatment, and like the other three titles from this February 1981 session, was recorded the month before they went into the studios to record them for Juju, giving the listeners a chance to preview a work in progress. But For Them, a showcase for Siouxsie and Budgie, is especially interesting as it was dropped uncompleted from Juju and instead turned up later on the debut EP by the Creatures, the Siouxsie and Budgie splinter group whose genesis this track had inspired.
I'm not so sure the Peel sessions should be singled out for this special treatment, when the band recorded sessions in the same studios for other Radio One shows, such as the Evening Session, and later in Manchester for Mark Radcliffe. They also recorded sessions around the world for other radio stations, not to mention a Capital Radio session in 1978 (Mirage and Metal Postcard).
In 2009 this collection has been complemented by a CD/DVD box set, At The BBC. It is considerably more expensive than this single CD; bad news for those of us that have already bought this one, but it does include everything on this CD plus the other missing Radio One sessions in full, as well as some live recordings broadcast on radio or TV."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1