Siouxsie Sioux
Mantaray

Having definitively shelved the old monicker "Siouxsie & the Banshees" and momentarily put on ice the more modern "The Creatures," the enigmatic Susan Dallion returns as a solo artist and gifts us a beautiful album mysteriously titled "Mantaray."

The album presents itself well from the colorful cover that shows us a glacial and beautiful Siouxsie, covered in insects and looking at us mockingly... pure '80s dark aesthetics!!!

The first two tracks "Into A Swan" and "About To Happen" represent the first pleasant surprise of the work in question, as we find ourselves in front of two fresh and modern songs with an almost industrial-metal edge confidently guided by Siouxsie's spectral voice. Subsequently, we encounter "Here Comes The Day", a romantic and intense ballad that would not have disgraced one of Nick Cave's or P.J Harvey's early works, and "Loveless", a desperate love song to be listened to by candlelight while reflecting sadly on the missed opportunities in our lives.

A welcome dive into the past is represented by the death rock of "One Mile Below", a powerful and resilient song softened by the amusing "Drone Zone" which could teach a thing or two to the Dresden Dolls and all those goth rock groups that are currently trending. The CD closes with a heart-stopping triptych composed of "Sea Of Tranquillity", "They Follow You", and "Heaven & Alchemy", where Siouxsie truly gives her best, between sensual and inspired vocals and instrumental parts on the verge of psychedelia.

The only small flaw might be "If It Doesn't Kill You", a morbid and decadent track that is certainly effective but did not strike me as much as the remaining songs.

In short, Mantaray is one of those albums for which it is still worth spending your money!!!