Q&A: Slowdive

Your first encounter with Slowdive was?

"Souvlaki" (1993)



Summer, 1999. I was up in the attic one day and stumbled on a stack of NME and Melody Makers from 1991. Being on the dole at the time I decided to haul the lot down and create internet archives for Curve, Stereolab, Ride, Lush and Saint Etienne. While doing so, I noticed how prolific Slowdive were amongst the pages. How on earth did I miss this band at the time?

Despite not having heard their music, I decided to add Slowdive to the list and set to work. I'm pleased to say the archive still exists, I rediscovered it this morning via their wiki page (of all places).

Later that week I ordered their 3 studio albums from the local record shop. I recall the manager scoffing, as Slowdive were old, obscure and uncool in the summer of '99. I had to laugh, the man was wearing a Silverfish shirt. Come on, surely they were older, more obsure and even more uncool?! Bah.

Your favourite album is?

The above. Shoegaze, when mastered properly, is the perfect form of escapism. These tracks transport you to wherever you need to be, in my case open fields of poppies and sunflowers. Anywhere without walls. There's also an undertone of urban sprawl about this album, I can sense Reading city centre on a Saturday afternoon, leisure centres, shopping streets, trains heading to London.

That's what Slowdive do here, they take the frustration of their urban monotony and sweep it aside with noise.

Which album would you recommend as a starting point (and why)?

Again, the above. I rate 1993 as the golden year of shoegaze. This album sits proud at its epicentre.

1. Souvlaki

I had seen this band's name everywhere Shoegaze was mentioned, so, I downloaded Soulvaki for free via Ruckus player which is only available for college students. I thought it was ok, but my friend and fellow shoegazer, Andy, loved it and quickly bought Pygmalion.

2. Souvlaki

Listening to this album is like having warm milk in the middle of the night with only the refrigerator light to illuminate your surroundings. It's very haunting, yet soothing, but sadly mundane.

3. Souvlaki

This album is highly accessible and I would consider it standard listening for anyone who considers themselves a shoegazer.

First encounter: Just for a Day

Favourite album: Souvlaki

Recommendation: Both of the above (Souvlaki if I had to choose one). Why? Like others have said, easy to like while still holding high quality.

1. Your first encounter with Slowdive was?
- Just For a Day. They were a band I had heard a bit about and wanted to explore so I bought their first album.

2. Your favourite album is?
- Pygmalion. It's pure beauty.

3. Which album would you recommend as a starting point (and why)?
- [Generally the same reasoning I used for the MBV question] Souvlaki. While I love Pygmalion just a tad more, I think don't think it's very accessible. Souvlaki on the other hand maintains originality and beauty while being easier to get into.

1. Your first encounter with Slowdive was?

-I found about them through The Gathering actually and the song was "when the sun hits" which was a cover and after a few listens I eventually fell in love with it.


2. Your favourite album is?

-Pygmalion.


3. Which album would you recommend as a starting point (and why)?

Hm I was originally going to say Pygmalion but I guess Souvlaki displays their sound properly and it's a classic in shoegaze so i'd say it's the best starting point out of the three :D

1. Hilarious story. In 1993 (when I was 10), my grandmother won a copy of a compilation for Reebok called 'Boks Rock' at her weekly bingo night. She gave it to me. On that compilation happened to be the song "Alison".

2. Souvlaki

3. Souvlaki, because it's my favorite.

1. Your first encounter with Slowdive was?
"Allison" song, one of my favorites and also one of my favorites videos

2. Your favourite album is?
"Souvlaki" of course, and is on my TOP TEN of favorite albums of alltimes, with other albums like "Silent Alarm" of Bloc Party or "Heaven Or Las Vegas" of Cocteau Twins.

3. Which album would you recommend as a starting point (and why)?
"Cath The Breeze"

1. Dec 1990 supporting Telescopes at Bristol's Fleece & Firkin with probably less than 100 others. Couldn't believe the sounds they were making and then had to wait a few weeks to buy their first single the Slowdive EP and played that to death loving all 3 tracks, and especially the 8 mins of avalyn2!

2. Favourite (proper) album - Souvlaki, although I love their EPs so much that Blue Day has an honourable mention.

3.Souvlaki's a great start to both Slowdive & shoegaze. Accessible songs with a pop sensibility and also tracks with great waves of classic shoegaze like When the Sun Hits.

1. Avalyn

2. Nowadays I would say Pygmallion, but had gone off the band at the time and never heard it until a few years later. Much under-rated album. Of course, "Just for a day" was my favourite album when it first came out. Played that a lot.

3. Just for a day

Alison music video.

Souvlaki

Just for a Day, Because I think it's the one people will instantly like.