35. Echo and the Bunnymen- Siberia



Ian McCullough and Will Sergeant have been motoring on for quite some time now but never have been able to get anywhere near the brilliance of 1984's Ocean Rain. Is that a fair target to set? Perhaps not, but if the bar's not set to the highest level, how else will this band find a way back to the listener's heart?
Siberia will not convert too many people to their cause but it's the best set of songs the pair have come up with for a long time. That is due part to the more open chords used by Sergeant, who has his most effective moment on songs like Of A Life, Scissors In the Sand and especially in songs like Everything Kills You and In The Margins where the sustained guitar gives it a bit of a shoegazing-effect. Only What if We Are is a bit too kitschy but the remainder is solid. Shame that this album looks set to sink amongst the releases of more quirky British bands, using the same quirk and charm McCullough employed with great acclaim 20 years ago, even though this album is much more mature...