Anima Animus | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 15 February 1999 | |||
Recorded | 1995–1997 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
the Creatures chronology | ||||
| ||||
Siouxsie Sioux chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Anima Animus | ||||
|
Anima Animus is the third studio album by British duo the Creatures,consisting of Siouxsie Sioux and musician Budgie,released in 1999. The title of the album was inspired by Carl Jung's concept of anima and animus ("the woman inside the man,the man inside the woman").
Recorded in France and England,the album was a departure from previous Creatures works. While still retaining a percussive element,the music had a more urban sound. Upon its release,the record was well received by critics.
Anima Animus was later hailed by peer PJ Harvey,who selected it in her Top 10 Albums of 1999. [1]
The pair began developing ideas for the songs in 1995. "Exterminating Angel" was composed that autumn in France. Siouxsie and Budgie had purchased a lot of equipment and decided to work at their house near Toulouse. The original title of the album was Gifthorse,then Mount Venus,before the duo changed their minds to finally opt for Anima Animus,which was a reference to Jung's theory of "The Man Inside The Woman and The Woman Inside The Man". In 1996,no major label was interested in the demos,as they were judged as too avant-garde and not commercial enough. Siouxsie and Budgie then decided to finance the project themselves,and began recording on their own. They produced the album with the assistance of Steve Lyon,Steve Levine and Warne Livesey. Four songs ("2nd Floor","Another Planet","Say" and "I Was Me") were recorded in England. While staying in London,they met Doug Hart,who owned an independent label,Hydrogen Records. With his help,the Creatures set up their own label called Sioux Records,and became an independent act. The album was finally mixed in New York. The portraits of Siouxsie and Budgie for the sleeves were designed and conceived by French artists Pierre et Gilles in Paris in 1997.
Lucy O'Brien described "2nd Floor" as "a driving,thumping dancefloor thing that exudes a brooding glamour". Siouxsie said that the song was about the state a person was after having too many Vodka Gimlets. "It's when you still want more,when you want the party to continue and it's beyond being sensible. I remember times when I was the one person left in a place,and the euphoria that goes along with it. '2nd Floor' was my idea of what a private drinking bar would be,that was open all the time." She also stated that "There's something very religious about bars. They're like altars. The lighting. The colour of the bottles. Having a drink. It's like Santa's Grotto time." [2] "Don't Go to Sleep Without Me" is a "ghostly lullaby". [2]
The first single,"2nd Floor",was issued in late 1998,shortly after the four-track EP Eraser Cut . The second single,"Say",featured two unreleased B-sides:the acoustic "Broken" and the atmospheric "All She Could Ask For". The latter song opened their 1999 concerts. All of this extra material was later included on the U.S. Retrace compilation.
Anima Animus was released on both CD and double 10-inch vinyl record. The album was also released on Spotify,but was later removed. [3]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The Times | 8/10 [4] |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album was well received by critics. The Times gave it 8 out of 10 and wrote:"Siouxsie,has rarely been in better voice. The opening track,"2nd Floor" is a fantastically knowing melodrama,riding a techno pulse,while the ominous,epic "Exterminating Angel" pursues its prey in lamplit streets. It's entrancing,hypnotic and inventive". [4] The Sunday Times praised it in glowing terms:"Siouxsie's voice has lost none of its ability to seduce and unsettle. The sound is percussive,defined by Budgie's supple rhythm work. "Exterminating Angel" is exquisitely menacing,while the sinuous "Another Planet" grows to a shuddering climax." [6] Uncut reviewer Chris Roberts rated the album 4 out of 5,saying:"Sioux's always been at her best as a harsh declaimer [...] but there are phases where she whispers,breathes,reaches for vulnerability",before concluding "The Creatures have jettisoned comfort and are phoning home from a new end zone. Anima Animus crackles." [5]
All songs written and composed by Siouxsie and Budgie.
Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. They have been widely influential,both over their contemporaries and with later acts. The Times called the group "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era".
The Creatures were an English band formed in 1981 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie of the group Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Creatures released their first EP Wild Things in 1981. They recorded four studio albums:Feast in 1983,Boomerang in 1989,Anima Animus in 1999 and Hái! in 2003.
Susan Janet Ballion,known professionally as Siouxsie Sioux,is an English singer,songwriter,musician and record producer. She came to prominence as the leader and main lyricist of the rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees,who were active from 1976 to 1996. They released 11 studio albums,and had several UK Top 20 singles including "Hong Kong Garden","Happy House" and "Peek-a-Boo",plus a US Top 25 single in the Billboard Hot 100,with "Kiss Them for Me".
Juno Reactor is a multi-national musical and performing group,primarily based in Brighton,UK. Known for their cinematic fusion of electronic,global influences,and orchestral symphonic approach,collaborating with composer Don Davis and composing for the musical score of The Matrix. Central to the project is Ben Watkins and his collaborations with a constantly changing ensemble of musicians from across the world. This ensemble has included Mabi Thobejane,Amampondo,Steve Stevens,Eduardo Niebla,Greg Ellis,Taz Alexander,Sugizo,Budgie and recently Hamsika Iyer and Maggie Hikri.
Peter Edward Clarke,known professionally as Budgie,is an English drummer best known for his work in Siouxsie and the Banshees. He is also the co-founder of the Creatures.
Kaleidoscope is the third studio album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees,released on 1 August 1980 by Polydor Records. With the departure of John McKay and Kenny Morris and their replacement by two new musicians,Budgie on drums and John McGeoch on guitars,the band changed their musical direction and offered an album containing a wide variety of colors. "It was almost a different band",said Siouxsie.
Hyæna is the sixth studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees,released on 8 June 1984 by Polydor Records. The opening track,"Dazzle",featured strings played by musicians of the London Symphonic Orchestra (LSO),a 27-piece orchestra called the "Chandos Players";it was scored from a tune that Siouxsie Sioux had composed on piano. Hyæna is the only studio album that guitarist Robert Smith of the Cure composed and recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Peepshow is the ninth studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees,released in the United Kingdom on 5 September 1988 by Polydor Records and in the United States the following day by Geffen Records. It was their first record as a quintet. With the arrival of multi-instrumentalist Martin McCarrick and guitarist Jon Klein,the group recorded a multifaceted album with a variety of influences. It included the singles "Peek-a-Boo","The Killing Jar" and "The Last Beat of My Heart". The record was a commercial success,peaking at No. 20 in the UK,and No. 68 on the US Billboard 200 chart in the week of 3 December 1988. It spent a total of 20 weeks on that chart. "Peek-a-Boo" reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and "the Killing Jar" got the number two spot.
Boomerang is the second studio album by British duo the Creatures. It was recorded in Spain with Mike Hedges,in Jerez de la Frontera,in Andalusia. It features brass arrangements including trumpet,trombone and saxophone.
Hái! is the fourth and final studio album released in 2003 by British duo the Creatures,composed of Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie. The album was recorded in two parts:the drums were recorded by Budgie and Kodo drummer Leonard Eto in Tokyo in August 2002 and the rest of the recording was done in Europe. During their stay in Japan,the band was inspired and "touched by the delicate snowfall imagery of Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru (1952),absorbing the vibrancy of Tokyo's Roppongi district,and spiritualised by the ancient Shinto shrines and tranquil shores of Lake Ashi."
Feast is the debut studio album by British duo the Creatures,composed of Siouxsie Sioux and musician Budgie,then-members of the band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It reached No. 17 in the UK Albums Chart and the single "Miss the Girl" peaked at No. 21. With their first album,the band embraced exotica,including "waves crashing on beaches","found-sound effects from nature" and local Hawaiian chanters. Critic Ned Raggett described it as "a lush,tropical experience".
Wild Things is the first release by British duo the Creatures. It was issued on 25 September 1981 by Polydor Records as two 7" single records in a "double-album" style card cover,and is usually referred to as an EP. It peaked on the UK Singles Chart at No. 24,and the pair performed "Mad Eyed Screamer" on Top of the Pops. The EP was entirely remastered in 1997 and reissued as part of the A Bestiary Of CD compilation –which was also released on Spotify.
Dreamshow is a live DVD by Siouxsie,released in 2005. It was filmed at the Royal Festival Hall in London in October 2004. The songs are performed on stage with the Millennia Ensemble orchestra. The setlist incorporates music from her bands Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Creatures.
U.S. Retrace is a compilation album by British act the Creatures,consisting of Siouxsie Sioux and musician Budgie formerly of Siouxsie and the Banshees. It collected out-of-print material from several CD singles as well as the 1998 Eraser Cut EP. The title is an anagram of the group's name.
Eraser Cut is an EP by the Creatures,consisting of singer Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie formerly of Siouxsie and the Banshees. It contains four unreleased songs taken from the Anima Animus recording sessions which took place in 1995–1996. This EP was later included on the compilation U.S. Retrace.
"Miss the Girl" is the debut single recorded by English band the Creatures. It was co-produced by Mike Hedges and was released as the lead single from the critically acclaimed Feast album. It was remastered in 1997 for A Bestiary Of.
"2nd Floor" is a song recorded by English band the Creatures. It was co-produced by Warne Livesey.
"Say" is a song recorded by English band the Creatures. It was co-produced by Steve Levine. The song is about Siouxsie's friend Billy Mackenzie who took his life in 1997.
"Prettiest Thing" is a song recorded by English band the Creatures. It was co-produced by Ian Caple.
Hybrids is a 1999 remix album by the Creatures. The tracks included are remixes of their songs released between 1998 and early 1999.