Photo by Ingrid Pop
For most people, the name Slowdive evokes a picture of the quintessential shoegaze band. The English quintet has been enticing fans for decades with an array of lush sounds and guitars laden with massive reverb. Despite each member’s eclectic influences, Slowdive collectively remains synonymous with the dream pop and shoegaze genres that have influenced countless independent bands today.
During the post-Pygmalion era, each member kept busy with various side projects. Rachel Goswell, Neil Halstead, and Ian McCutcheon signed with 4AD as Mojave 3. Meanwhile, Simon Scott and Christian Savill continued to work on a number of their own projects which were more electronic and dream pop-oriented compared to their contribution with Slowdive.
In 2014, cryptic stirrings of a potential reunion surfaced on Twitter and on the band’s official website. Although all of the original members returned to the stage that year for festivals such as the Primavera Sound Festival, it was still unclear if they would be releasing any new material.
Fortunately, Slowdive recently announced that they are officially reuniting and going on tour in support of their upcoming self-titled release--their first in 22 years.
“When you’re in a band and you do three records, there’s a continuous flow and a development. For us, that flow re-started with us playing live again and that has continued into the record,” Halstead noted in a recent interview. If the album’s latest singles “Star Roving” and “Sugar for the Pill” are any indication, the eight song LP marks an optimistic new chapter for the group.
Naturally, long-time fans will recognize their trademark sound, but this time around, there is an extra fullness that resonates along with the reverb-drenched guitars. There is a confidence and maturity that is present from start to finish--an intriguing continuation of the gorgeous cliffhanger that fans have been yearning for--a continuation that has been well worth the wait.
Slowdive will be playing a sold out show at The Vic along with Japanese Breakfast on Wednesday, May 3rd. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm.
