TRADEMARK EXOTICA

“TINDERBOX.” Siouxsie & the Banshees. Geffen. This first Banshees LP since 1984’s “Hyaena” hasn’t that album’s fascinating sideshows, but “Tinderbox” has its own charms. It continues and furthers singer-writer Siouxsie Sioux’s comparative softening of her sound without ever giving a sense of commercial compromise. There are eight strong examples of this English band’s trademark exotica, including the single released several months ago, “Cities in Dust.” Marginally more melodic than previous works, yet still dark and exciting, this album is another superb offering from one of the most consistently rewarding, influential, and, in this country, sadly neglected bands of the last decade.