At the BBC cover

At the BBC

Siouxsie and the Banshees · 2009

223 min · 55 tracks · alternative rock

A collection of raw, dynamic live recordings that encapsulate the band's evolution through the vibrant British post-punk scene.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Love in a Void (John Peel session 29.11.77) Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
  • →
    Hong Kong Garden — This track showcases Siouxsie's unique vocal style against a backdrop of jangly guitars, marking their breakthrough hit that defined their sound and set them apart from peers.
  • →
    Cities in Dust — Its haunting melody and lyrical themes reflect the band's ability to merge pop sensibilities with darker undertones, illustrating their later works' complexity.
  • →
    Spellbound — An anthemic song that captures the band's theatricality and energy, it is a fan favorite that highlights Siouxsie's charismatic stage presence.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

This album effectively captures Siouxsie and the Banshees' live essence while presenting a varied collection of performances.

What we noticed

  • The album features live recordings from various sessions, capturing the band's raw energy and dynamic performances across different years.
  • The sound quality varies between tracks, reflecting the different recording conditions of each session, which can enhance the authenticity of the live experience.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
8/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic live performance energy
  • raw and unfiltered sound
  • wave-like pacing throughout
  • immersive concert experience
  • nostalgic for post- era

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer polished studio recordings
  • seek instant gratification tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Deep Cut — An archival live collection showcasing the band's evolution, appealing mainly to dedicated fans.
Themes
post-punk evolution· BBC live sessions· exoticism in sound
Career context
Released in 2009, At the BBC captures Siouxsie and the Banshees' formative years from 1977 to 1988, showcasing their development through various John Peel sessions and live performances. By this time, the band had already solidified their influence on alternative rock and gothic aesthetics, following a career peak with albums like Tinderbox and Peepshow in the late '80s.
Stylistic neighbors
The Cure· Bauhaus· Joy Division
New to Siouxsie and the Banshees? Find your way in →

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • Spellbound

    The chorus shifts into an almost chant-like repetition that elevates the song's intensity while highlighting themes of obsession and entrancement.

    This structural choice amplifies the emotional stakes of the song, embodying the push-and-pull between desire and fear.

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Love in a Void (John Peel session 29.11.77) Start here 2:39
  • 2 Mirage (John Peel session 29.11.77) 2:40
  • 3 Metal Postcard (Mittageisen) (John Peel session 29.11.77) 3:34
  • 4 Suburban Relapse (John Peel session 29.11.77) 3:05
  • 5 Hong Kong Garden (John Peel session 6.2.1978) 2:41
  • 6 Overground (John Peel session 6.2.1978) 3:10
  • 7 Carcass (John Peel session 6.2.1978) 3:42
  • 8 Helter Skelter (John Peel session 6.2.1978) 3:30
  • 9 Placebo Effect (John Peel session 9.4.79) 4:23
  • 10 Playground Twist (John Peel session 9.4.79) 3:05
  • 11 Regal Zone (John Peel session 9.4.79) 3:53
  • 12 Poppy Day (John Peel session 9.4.79) 2:04
  • 13 Halloween (John Peel session 10.2.81) 3:37
  • 14 Voodoo Dolly (John Peel session 10.2.81) 6:30
  • 15 But Not Them (John Peel session 10.2.81) 3:32
  • 16 Into the Light (John Peel session 10.2.81) 4:21
  • 17 Arabian Knights (Richard Skinner session 4.6.81) 3:03
  • 18 Red Over White (Richard Skinner session 4.6.81) 4:24
  • 19 Headcut (Richard Skinner session 4.6.81) 4:23
  • 20 Supernatural Thing (Richard Skinner session 4.6.81) 4:05

Disc 2

  • 1 Coal Mind (Kid Jensen Show 13.5.82) 3:35
  • 2 Green Fingers (Kid Jensen Show 13.5.82) 3:28
  • 3 Painted Bird (Kid Jensen Show 13.5.82) 4:17
  • 4 Cascade (Kid Jensen Show 13.5.82) 4:31
  • 5 Candyman (John Peel session 28.1.86) 3:44
  • 6 Cannons (John Peel session 28.1.86) 3:18
  • 7 Land's End (John Peel session 28.1.86) 6:16
  • 8 Shooting Sun (Janice Long Show 11.1.87) 4:15
  • 9 Song From the Edge of the World (Janice Long Show 11.1.87) 4:06
  • 10 Little Johnny Jewel (Janice Long Show 11.1.87) 5:09
  • 11 Something Blue (Janice Long Show 11.1.87) 1:06
  • 12 Green Fingers (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert 14.11.85) 3:40
  • 13 Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert14.11.85) 4:40
  • 14 Sweetest Chill (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert 14.11.85) 4:09
  • 15 Cannons (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert14.11.85) 3:22
  • 16 Melt! (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert 14.11.85) 4:10
  • 17 Candyman (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert 14.11.85) 3:46
  • 18 Land's End (Apollo Theatre, Oxford in Concert 14.11.85) 6:14

Disc 3

  • 1 Night Shift (Oxford, Apollo Theatre 14-11-1985) 6:19
  • 2 92 Degrees (Oxford, Apollo Theatre 14-11-1985) 5:26
  • 3 Pulled to Bits (Oxford, Apollo Theatre 14-11-1985) 4:03
  • 4 Switch (Oxford, Apollo Theatre 14-11-1985) 6:32
  • 5 Happy House (Oxford, Apollo Theatre 14-11-1985) 4:10
  • 6 Cities in Dust (Oxford, Apollo Theatre 14-11-1985) 4:40
  • 7 The Last Beat of My Heart (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 5:03
  • 8 The Killing Jar (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 4:00
  • 9 Christine (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 3:06
  • 10 This Wheel's on Fire (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 5:05
  • 11 Something Blue (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 3:58
  • 12 Rawhead and Bloody Bones (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 2:08
  • 13 Carousel (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 3:59
  • 14 Rhapsody (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 6:47
  • 15 Skin (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 3:38
  • 16 Spellbound (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 5:14
  • 17 Hong Kong Garden (Royal Albert Hall 12-09-1988) 3:10

What to play next

Nocturne
Listen next

Nocturne

1983

Continues the live energy with a focus on their atmospheric soundscapes.
The Seven Year Itch
Go back to

The Seven Year Itch

2003

Precedes the live experience with a mix of hits and deeper cuts, setting the stage.
Full Siouxsie and the Banshees discography Where to start with Siouxsie and the Banshees Artists like Siouxsie and the Banshees
alternative rock new wave post-punk

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Joy Division

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata