When Slowdive first emerged from Reading in 1989, no one thought the shy, self-effacing teenagers would become one of the most influential bands of their generation.
It isn’t easy to be a band for more than three decades. It also isn’t easy to find widespread acclaim with a sound that no one was used to (or liked) and then go on to inspire countless other artists.
Slowdive did all of this, however, and as they prepare for their upcoming Australian tour, it’s worth reflecting on their remarkable journey from critical punching bags to revered innovators.
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Just for a Day (1991)
Formed by childhood friends Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell, Slowdive quickly expanded to include Christian Savill, Nick Chaplin and Simon Scott. They found some fast acclaim with their early EPs and honed their unique sound into a perfect summation – their debut album Just for a Day. Their woozy, immersive soundscapes are what we now refer to as shoegaze, but at the time, this musical movement was just finding its legs.
Drawing inspiration from Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth and the Cocteau Twins, Slowdive crafted a wall of noise that was as curious as their introspective stage presence, and since we fear what we do not understand, their early accolades would soon take a turn.
Souvlaki (1993)
By the time Souvlaki, which is now listed in countless wrap-ups as one of the greatest shoegaze albums of all time, arrived, the genre had become the butt of the music industry’s jokes. The album’s creation was complicated by the dissolution of Halstead and Goswell’s romantic relationship, pushing Halstead toward more remote songwriting.
Despite collaboration with Brian Eno, Souvlaki received a lukewarm reception from critics who simply no longer seemed to get it. Today, the sophomore effort stands as their masterpiece – a revolutionary, pioneering artifact that is timeless and home to some of the band’s most beloved songs.
Pygmalion (1995)
If people didn’t get Souvlaki, its follow-up Pygmalion was never going to fare well in the mid-’90s British music scene, despite its slight departure from the shoegaze genre. Still, people weren’t going to get songs like Blue Skied an’ Clear when Wonderwall was dominating the airwaves. The band’s label wanted a pop record and Slowdive opted to go in the opposite direction.
Pygmalion was an ambient, experimental step toward electronic music, influenced by techno, early Aphex Twin and John Cage. Recorded in bedrooms and kitchens rather than professional studios, the album came together on samplers and computer software. The band were dropped by their label a week after its release and then dissolved without any formal breakup conversation.
Slowdive (2017)
So, we gave props to Slowdive for their longevity in the opening sentence, but it does include a 22-year gap. The band members moved on to other projects after Pygmalion, with Halstead and Goswell forming Mojave 3.
They reunited in 2014 for Spain’s Primavera Sound festival to tens of thousands of fans, and their self-titled comeback album arrived in 2017 to widespread acclaim. The record captured the essence of their earlier work while sounding fresh and contemporary. Tracks like Sugar for the Pill demonstrated that Slowdive could evolve without abandoning their distinctive sound, the true goal of any reunion album. Slowdive were back, and possibly better than ever.
everything is alive (2023)
Six years after their comeback, Slowdive returned with their latest record everything is alive, perhaps their most cohesive album yet. Created during the pandemic and dedicated to Goswell’s mother and Scott’s father, the record balances the light and dark with some doses of pop and plenty of atmospheric synths and droning guitars.
In September 2024, the band released a mini-EP for the single Kisses which featured a remix from English electronic producer Daniel Avery and an ambient version of the song by Grouper.
Originally set for an Australian headline tour and as part of the Daydream Festival in Melbourne in 2023, the band had to cancel last minute after drummer Simon Scott suffered a back injury. They popped back out later that year to make up for it with a run of sold-out shows and are returning once again with New York’s Beach Fossils in tow.
To see Slowdive at Festival Hall on May 3 with Beach Fossils, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Destroy All Lines.
