Rocktrospectiva: The Underrated Odd Gem "Rapture" Turns 30

Released on 16 January 1995, "The Rapture" was the 11th., and final studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, under the legendary John Cale production and the band, the album spawned two singles "O Baby" & "Stargazer". 

 

The band went to Léon near Biarritz to begin recordings in April 1993. They produced the first part of the album at Studio du Manoir in May. "The Double Life" was the last song that they recorded during that first session block. When Siouxsie heard the news that Mick Ronson had passed away, she asked Jon Klein to add a guitar solo on "The Double Life" at the last minute, in memory of Ronson, whereas the band usually didn't want solos. 

 

At the beginning of 1994, they recorded the final songs in London, this time with producer and former Velvet Underground member John Cale, he also mixed one track, "Fall from Grace", from the previous recording sessions. Even thought the band opted for the experimentation which means no risk, but a possibility in the career of the band, but instead of that, the creative process became frustrating, basically in the way the album was recorded, the band avoided the use of computers and remained their custom to translate their live-shows experienced to recording studio.

 

Unfortunately the album represented a sour ending, the songs according to critics would be different if they were recorded in their early days, despite the singles were kinda of cool, "O Baby, "Falling Down", and "The Lonely One" were the evidence of empty lyrics or emotion, other songs such as "Hall Of Mirrors", "Turn To Stone", "Carousel" and "VooDoo Dolly", were rated negatively by fans echoing on certain situations, but the main was the production of John Cale.

 

The album received mixed critics, some considered it fascinating with the arrangements, other recalled The Rapture as an intelligent twist on familiar Banshees obsessions, others described the album as not so remarkable except for the single "O Baby", in which the band sounded genuinely happy, and the curious 11-minutes track "The Double life" considered dazzling in their whole career.  

 

Rapture Track List:

 

1. O Baby

2. Tearing Apart

3. Stargazer

4. Fall From Grace

5. Not Forgotten

6. Sick Child

7. The Lonely One

8. Falling Down

9. Forever

10. The Rapture

11. The Double Life

12. Love Out Me