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Some time after JS published this article Steven Severin launched his own website. After some time he also included a FAQ. JS mailed a number of questions and saw the answers publsihed on the web. The following exchange might be of interest here...:

-How exactly was Peek-a-Boo composed and recorded?

-There's a technique called 'reverse tape echo'. It's that peculiar 'sucking' sound that's probably easiest to hear on 'Voices'. It's an old 'psychedelic' trick that involves turning over the tape and recording 'echoes'. Consequently the song you are working on is heard backwards. So it was with our version of 'Gun' from 'Looking-Glass' (listen to the intro!). As soon as Siouxsie heard it she was inspired to create a new melody. It started life as a B-side for 'Passenger' but both Budgie and I said 'Oi, NO!'. Hedges really loved it and went to town. In the morning Hedges and I created the bass roar from Hell. In the afternoon Martin danced in with the accordion and Budgie went all 'Go-Go'(something he picked up from seeing kids playing boxes in the streets of Washington D. C.). We deliberately restricted Klein to ONE power chord (it's an 'in' joke) & a few of his trademark 'noises'. The evening was spent adding the cream - Siouxsie's vocals. Every line is recorded using a different microphone. All done in a day, pretty much. A great Banshee moment.

N.B. In the mix I got to try out something I'd been wanting to do for years. Changing the EQ on EVERY snare beat as it is being mixed to tape. Still makes me ;-)

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BACK TO INDEX JAN SVENUNGSSON