Slowdive: The Kings of Psychedelic Rock

Slowdive was one of the most important psychedelic rock bands of the nineties. Formed in 1989, the band combined ethereal, dreamlike melodies with effects-laden guitar work to create a unique sound that was both beautiful and otherworldly.

Who are Slowdive?

Slowdive is an English rock band that formed in Reading, Berkshire in 1989. The band consists of Rachel Goswell on vocals and guitar, Neil Halstead on vocals and guitar, Christian Savill on guitar, and Simon Scott on drums. The band released three albums, Just For a Day (1991), Souvlaki (1993), and Pygmalion (1995) before disbanding in 1995.

The group reunited in 2014 and released a self-titled album in 2017. Slowdive’s sound has been described as “shoegazing”, “dream pop”, “neo-psychedelia”, and “space rock”. The band’s songs often feature long structures, repetitive basslines, throbbing echo & reverb-drenched guitars, textural pads and effects tones, use of keyboards or synthesizers for introduction/transition of musical passages, detailed layered production work.

The early days

Slowdive was formed in late 1989 by Neil Halstead (vocals, guitar) and Rachel Goswell (vocals), who had been playing together since graduating from college. They were joined by Simon Scott (drums) and Christian Savill (guitar). The band began as a loose, jam-based outfit, drawing influence from the shoegazing sound that was developing in the UK at the time. They built up a following playing small clubs and pubs in their hometown of Reading, Berkshire.

In 1991, the band released their first EP, Slowdive, on the SBK label. The EP caught the attention of Creation Records founder Alan McGee, who signed them to his label. That same year, they released their debut album, Just for a Day. The album was well-received by critics but failed to make much of a commercial impact.

The band’s sound began to evolve on their second album, Souvlaki (1993), which was produced by Brian Eno. The album featured more experimental songwriting and a more polished production style. It was also the first time they worked with engineer/producer Nigel Godrich, who would go on to produce all of their subsequent albums.

Souvlaki was followed by Pygmalion (1995), which found the band further experimenting with ambient and electronic sounds. The album was not well-received by critics at the time, but has since come to be regarded as one of their masterpiece

The album “Just for a Day”

Slowdive’s debut album, Just for a Day, was released in 1991 to critical acclaim. The album is considered a classic of the shoegaze genre, and is often credited as one of the first albums to pioneer the sound. Just for a Day was produced by legendary producer Hugh Jones, who had previously worked with such bands as Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes. Jones’ production style helped to create Slowdive’s signature sound: atmospheric and ethereal, with dense layers of guitars and Effects-laden vocals.

The album “Souvlaki”

The album “Souvlaki” is the second studio album by the British rock band Slowdive. It was released on May 16, 1993 by record label Creation. Produced by the band and new engineer Chris Hufford, it is considered the crowning achievement of their early career. The dream pop and shoegazing album was recorded at Oxford’s Courtyard Studios in 1992 and early 1993, following the removal of original drummer Simon Scott. It features contributions from Brian Eno and Neil Halstead’s then-girlfriend Nicolette Kruger.

Souvlaki peaked at number twenty-two on the UK Albums Chart and was nominated for the 1994 Mercury Prize. In 2000, Q magazine placed it at number fifty-seven in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever; five years later, Pitchfork Media ranked it number forty-nine on its list of the Top 100 Albums of the 1990s. In 2010, The Times included it in their list of All Time 100 Albums.

The album “Pygmalion”

“Pygmalion” is the third studio album by the English rock band Slowdive. It was released on 5 February 1995 and is considered the band’s masterpiece. The album was nominated for the 1995 Mercury Music Prize.

The album is named after the ancient Greek legend of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with a statue he has created. Similarly, Slowdive’s song “Golden Hair” is a cover of a track from Syd Barrett’s solo album “The Madcap Laughs”.

The reunion

It’s been 22 years since Slowdive last released an album, and frontman Neil Halstead is well aware of the “disbelief” factor surrounding the band’s reunion. “I think people stopped expecting us to do anything a long time ago,” he says with a laugh, calling from his home in England.

But after playing a handful of reunion shows in 2014 – including an appearance at Coachella – Halstead, singer-guitarist Rachel Goswell, bassist Nick Chaplin and drummer Simon Scott decided to give it another go. The result is Slowdive, the band’s first album of new material since 1995’s Pygmalion.

Slowdive was always something of an outsider in the British shoegazing scene of the early Nineties, which revolved around My Bloody Valentine and Ride. Whereas those bands created overdriven guitar soundscapes punctuated by sputtering drums, Slowdive opted for a more spacious, atmospheric approach. The songs on 1991’s Just for a Day and 1993’s Souvlaki often spanned more than seven minutes, with extended crescendos that evoked the expansiveness of far-off galaxies.

The album “Slowdive”

Slowdive’s self-titled album was released in May of 2017 by record label Dead Oceans. The album is the band’s fifth studio album, and was preceded by the singles, “Star Roving” and “Sugar for the Pill”.

The album was recorded over the course of 2016 and early 2017 in Los Angeles, England, and Reykjavik. It was produced by Neil Halstead, with engineering by Cenzo Townshend and mixing by Chris Coady.

Upon its release, Slowdive received critical acclaim from music publications. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 86, based on 25 reviews.

The influence of Slowdive

Slowdive is often credited as being one of the most influential bands in the development of the shoegazing genre of rock music. Their sound is characterized by atmospheric, ethereal Microsoft Mesh psychedelic melodies, juxtaposed with heavy distortion and reverb. Slowdive’s musical style has been described as “dream pop”, and they have been credited as pioneers of the genre. The band’s sound is often compared to that of My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, and Sonic Youth.