Slowdive : Everything Is Alive

Slowdive are one of the premier OG shoegaze bands of the early 90s. Releasing their debut album Just For A Day in 1991, then following it up with Souvlaki in 1993. Their sophomore release got mixed reviews when it came out, but like most great things in hindsight was re-evaluated as a masterpiece. Slowdive released one more album(1995s Pygmalion) before calling it quits.

In 2014 the band reunited to play Primavera Sound, which led to the band’s first album in 22 years in 2017s self-titled album. That record sounded like a band making up for lost time and became one of the most well-regarded records of the year. Six years later Slowdive have returned with their fifth full-length studio album called everything is alive. The album contains some of Slowdive’s best songs yet, putting their sound in darker hues and dreamier moods. The haunting back and fourth vocals of Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell continue to define the Slowdive sound, giving the new record a timeless feel.

Slowdive’s sound always teetered between the hazy darkness of shoegaze while giving us touches of blissful dream pop at the same time. Swirling guitars and keys coalesce in slow motion rhythms as Halstead and Goswell’s vocals lull us into an almost hallucinogenic indifference. Their sound was always somewhere between MBV, Lush, and Jesus and Mary Chain. They were the major DNA strand that gave us that late 2000s shoegaze rush which bore bands like Nothing, Young Prisms, and Whirr.

everything is alive feels like a band settling into their age while not losing any of the sonic magic that made them legends. Album opener “shanty” is darker in tone opening with a pulsating synth line which then explodes in guitar squall and Rachel Goswell’s ghostly vocals. It grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. “prayer remembered” benefits from tight production, silky keys, and a prominent bass line. The delayed guitar line is reminiscent of The Cure. There’s even a post-rock feel here which fits Slowdive’s MO for taking their time getting to the heart of a song.

There’s an overall melancholy feel throughout everything is alive. Not a downer, just more of an overcast vibe. “kisses” has a driving, head-bopping rhythm and “the slab” has a more frenetic feel, but for the most part this is a contemplative record. Tracks like the beautiful “andalucia plays” which has Yo La Tengo feels and the bittersweet synth notes of “chained to a cloud” define this amazing record. I feel a real sonic kinship between this record and Beach House’s Once Twice Melody.

Over thirty years into it Slowdive have lost nothing. everything is alive is a stunning late career record that sees them pushing their sound and their songwriting into new territory.