Anima Animus

Anima Animus
Studio album by The Creatures
Released 15 February 1999
Recorded France
Genre Alternative rock
Label Sioux Records, Instinct Records
Producer The Creatures, Steve Lyon, Warne Livesy
The Creatures chronology
Eraser Cut EP
(1998)		 Anima Animus
(1999)		 U.S. Retrace
(2000)
Singles from Anima Animus
  1. "Second Floor"
    Released: 5 october 1998
  2. "Say"
    Released: 15 march 1999
  3. "Prettiest Thing"
    Released: 6 September 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link

Anima Animus is the third album to be released by British duo The Creatures (aka singer Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie). The title of the album was inspired by Carl Jung's concept of transgender, the woman inside the man, the man inside the woman. The album was released in 1999.

PJ Harvey selected Anima Animus in her Top 10 Albums of 1999. She posted it on her site in January 2000.[1]

Contents

Critical reception

This album was well received by critics. The Times noted it 8/10 and wrote : "Siouxsie, has rarely been in better voice. The opening track, Second Floor is a fantastically knowing melodrama, riding a techno pulse, while the ominous, epic Exterminating Angel pursues its prey in lamplit streets. It's entrancing, hypnotic and inventive".[2] The Sunday Times also praised and presented it in these glowing terms : "Siouxsie's voice has lost none of its ability to seduce and unsettle. The sound is percussive, defined by Budgie's supple rhythm work. Exterminating Angel is exquisitely menacing, while the sinuous Another Planet grows to a shuddering climax."[3] Uncut gave the note of 4/5 and Chris Roberts said : "Sioux's always been at her best as a harsh declaimer, PJ Harvey on steroids, but there are phases where she whispers, breathes, reaches for vulnerability", before concluding "The Creatures have jettisoned comfort and are phoning home from a new end zone. Anima Animus crackles."[4]

History

The original title had to be called Gifthorse then Mount venus but the duo changed their mind to finally opt for Anima Animus. The first single "Second Floor" was issued in late 1998 shortly after the four tracks ep, "Eraser Cut". Another single "Say" featured two unreleased b-sides, the acoustic "Broken" and the atmospheric "All She Could Ask For" ; the latter song opened their concerts of 1999. This material was later included on the US Retrace compilation cd.

Track listing

  1. "2nd Floor"
  2. "Disconnected"
  3. "Turn It On"
  4. "Take Mine"
  5. "Say"
  6. "I Was Me"
  7. "Prettiest Thing"
  8. "Exterminating Angel" featuring Juno Reactor
  9. "Another Planet"
  10. "Don't Go to Sleep Without Me"

Sources of the citations

  1. ^ "7th January 2000 PJ selects her Top 10 Albums of 1999" Pjharvey.net. 7 January 2000. Featuring The Creatures aka Siouxsie and Budgie for the album Anima Animus.
  2. ^ "Anima Animus" review. The Times. 2 February 1999.
  3. ^ "Anima Animus" review. Sunday Times. 14 February 1999.
  4. ^ Roberts, Chris. "Brute's Foresight" [Anima Animus review]. Uncut. February 1999.
The Creatures
Studio albums
Feast · Boomerang · Anima Animus · Hai!
Live albums
Zulu · Sequins in the Sun · Utrecht Tivoli 06/03/90
Compilations
A Bestiary Of · Hybrids · U.S. Retrace
EPs
Wild Things · Eraser Cut · Something Old Something New Something Borrowed Now Buy Zulu
Singles
"Miss the Girl" · "Right Now" · "Standing There" · "Fury Eyes" · "Second Floor" · "Say" · "Prettiest Thing" · "Godzilla"
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