There was a period in the early '90s where it seemed like practically every artist in the UK had to release a song that at least nodded towards the indie-rock-plus-dance-beats sound that was then called "Madchester." The Stone Roses' "Fools Gold" was the early pinnacle, but it seemed like everybody got in on it: Kirsty MacColl's "Walking Down Madison," Saint Etienne's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," Happy Mondays' "Step On," Blur's "There's No Other Way," everything Primal Scream was doing, et-bloody-cetera. Siouxsie and the Banshees' 1991 single "Kiss Them For Me" was a lateish entry, but it was a bigger American hit than most of the others. (In fact, it was the Banshees' only American Top 40 single, making it all the way to 23.)

These days, "Kiss Them For Me" sounds more dated than the Banshees' earlier singles: as catchy as Talvin Singh's tabla groove and that repetitive five-note hook are, the song just seems more tied to its era than, say, "Cities In Dust" or "Peek-A-Boo" do. So it's interesting how well the moderately radical reworking of the song by New York neo-shoegaze duo School of Seven Bells transforms the song. Ironically, the loops-and-guitar-effects vibe, with Alejandra Deheza's crystalline voice right in front of the mix and that familiar hook de-emphasized, makes the song sound much more like vintage post-punk-era Siouxsie and the Banshees than the Stephen Hague-produced original single.

Released as a vinyl single on Record Store Day, "Kiss Them For Me" is now also available as a download.

Related Entries: Ghostory, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Disconnect from Desire, Conatus