"Tattoo" is a song written and recorded by Siouxsie and the Banshees and co-produced by Mike Hedges in 1983. For music historians, its claustrophobic and moist production predated the trip-hop genre that later appeared in the mid-1990s. The Quietus dubbed "Tattoo" "proto-trip-hop". In 1996, the song was covered by Tricky.
| "Tattoo" | |
|---|---|
 UK single B-side label | |
| Song by Siouxsie and the Banshees | |
| from the album Downside Up (compilation) | |
| Released | 23 September 1983 |
| Recorded | 1983 |
| Genre | Post-punk, proto-trip-hop[1] |
| Label | Polydor |
| Songwriters | Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin, Budgie |
| Producers | Siouxsie and the Banshees, Mike Hedges |
Music and recording
edit"Tattoo" was composed and performed as a three-piece by singer Siouxsie Sioux, bassist Steven Severin and drummer Budgie.[2] During this era, the band experimented other ways of recording and orchestration when they were in the studio to record extra tracks for their singles.[2]
For "Tattoo", producer Mike Hedges made them use the mixing desk as an instrument.[2] Budgie specifically created "a drum kit sound from various elements". "Tattoo [...] was just built up from timbales, a simple pattern of timbales and snare drum, built up in rounds."[3]
Afer watching the film Tattoo (1981), Siouxsie wrote out the lyrics and performed the vocal in one day.[2]
Release
editThe song was first released as the B-side of the "Dear Prudence" single in 1983.[2] It was included on two compilation CDs: 2004's Downside Up and 2015's Spellbound : The Collection.
Legacy
edit"Tattoo" is considered to be a proto-trip-hop track which helped Tricky to shape his style,[1] with its "claustrophobic mood and insistent rhythm".[4] The song is often cited as inspirational in the development of the trip-hop genre.[1] "Tattoo" was covered by Tricky in 1996 as the opening number of his second album, Nearly God.[5] Tricky also sampled the original orchestration.[1] It was also covered by Jay Jay Johanson in 2022.[6]
NME called the song "spellbinding" in 2009 while retrospectively reviewing Downside Up.[7]
In 2024, "Tattoo" was included on the vinyl compilation titled FIP Trip Hop – made by FIP and Radio France – about the trip-hop genre, its roots and its history.[8]
Aftermath
editSiouxsie said in 1998 that it was her "all-time favourite Banshees track", and she performed it live that year with the Creatures.[9] Severin shared a similar view in 2004: "Probably my favourite B-side of all".[2]
Personnel
edit- Siouxsie Sioux – voice
- Steven Severin – harmonic and drone basses
- Budgie – timbales, snares, piano and vocal percussion[2]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 Manning, Toby (22 April 2026). "The Vanishing Twin: Tricky's Nearly God turns 30". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
The Banshees' proto trip hop 'Tattoo'
Valli and Pascal Bertin. "Portishead - Dummy in "Pop, Etc". radio France Inter. Radio show broadcast on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2016. archived from the original on 17 July 2018 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Paytress, Mark. "Siouxsie and the Banshees - Downside Up [liner notes- Boxset]". Universal – 982 182-3. 2004
- ↑ Bacon, Francis (June 1984). "Banshee Beat Siouxsie & The Banshees". One Two Testing.
- ↑ Troussé, Stephen. Spellbound: Siouxsie Sioux's 20 Greatest Songs. Uncut.co.uk. June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2025. archived from the original on 2 July 2025.
- ↑ "cover me". moon-palace.de. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
- ↑ Roulleau, Denis (March 2022). "Icon - Tribute to Siouxsie and the Banshees [review]". Rolling Stone (French edition) (140).
- ↑ "30 Killer B-Side And Rarities Albums You Might've Missed". NME. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2015
- ↑ "FIP Trip Hop". Radiofrance.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22. archived from the original on 15 December 2024.
- ↑ Aston, Martin (September 1998). "20 Questions for Siouxsie Sioux". Mojo.