Slowdive: Souvlaki (Music On Vinyl 180g) Vinyl LP

Unreal...is it 1993? This album, in my opinion, is a seamless mix of Just For A Day, Souvlaki and the great early EP's. The sounds from Pygmalion, whilst great in their experimental elements, have largely been ignored in favor of the great washes of sound that gave Slowdive their signature sound and individuality. Honestly, this could be their greatest album to date, which says a lot for a band that have just come back after a 20+ year hiatus. Buy it!

This album’s singlehandedly making me revise my opinions about what’s possible for bands after a long hiatus.I got into shoegaze long after it hit, but long ago now as well. I’d heard good things about Slowdive and picked up “Souvlaki”; I loved it enough to get a few friends into it, and to keep it on semi-regular rotation over the last ten years or so. Roger Ebert once defined a classic as something he couldn’t bear the thought of never experiencing again, and that album’s basically on that level for me. BUT I also heard it was their best, and as is the case with a few bands, I figured I’d be a one-and-done fan, snatching up the album everyone said was essential and avoiding the disappointment of lesser works in their discography.Then I saw this one on a couple 2017 year-end lists and got curious. Slowdive had apparently gone on a quarter-century hiatus, working on other projects and doing whatever bands do to pay the bills when fame proves fleeting and fortune doesn’t materialize. (At least in their case, fame had turned to infamy, too—when Britpop hit, shoegaze became passe; they became the subject of ridicule, with one contemporary saying “I hate Slowdive more than Hitler.”) But it turns out their powers only increased in their absence.From the amiable narcotic sleepiness of “Slomo,” through the charging chiming energy of “Star Roving” and the shimmering beauty of “Sugar for the Pill,” and on to the poignant “Falling Ashes,” the tracks are uniformly excellent. As with “Souvlaki,” it’s all echo and reverb, with hushed vocals that blend into the soundscape, like hunters camouflaged to the point that you can just barely pick out where they end and everything else begins. Here and there you’ll catch the outlines of human forms—phrases like “Cathy don’t wait too long” or “I wanna see it” or “Finger to my love”—but large sections of vocals are beautifully unintelligible. Does it matter what they’re saying? Possibly not—like Morgan Freeman says in his famous Shawshank Redemption soliloquy, I’d like to think they’re singing about something so beautiful it can’t be put into words.Indeed, there’s a scope and a grandeur and a space that are downright movie-like. It’s one of those albums that’s so cinematic and compelling that when you throw on headphones and listen to it during, say, a morning commute, it’s an instant soundtrack, turning banal routine into something beautiful and unique.Many bands’ later works feel like uninspired cash grabs, quick half-hearted efforts to put out something that will sell based on nostalgia until word-of-mouth catches up. This somehow feels like the exact opposite—a band that is giving us an album we didn’t know we needed, one so good the word-of-mouth should be more along the lines of “Hey, put down their earlier stuff and listen to THIS.” Artfully executed and impeccably produced, this might be the best album of Slowdive’s career.

Comeback of the year. 22 years apparently had no effect on them but to prove that if you keep your eye on the craft and do what you know and love, it comes through. Well done, folks.Wifey worked with MBV on a video they did and it left a sour enough taste in her mouth that I can't listen to Loveless or the new one, but slowdive always resonated with me more.Respect to Kevin and the gang for pioneering it but respect to Neil & co for staying true to their muse and getting back together for this beauty.

Buying a new Slowdive and Jesus and Mary Chain on the same day, like it's 1993 again (I miss you...) was definitely a highlight of 2017, and this album is perfect! However.. it comes in #2 behind the JAMC for album of the year, despite my girlfriend having these two reversed, LOL.But this... is monumentally amazing, beautiful, achingly sad and completely wonderous. A perfect, brilliant and timeless album, that immediately takes you back to college, 25 years ago...You can see the sun peeking through the bare branches, and taste a non-existent cig and smell your black leather as you step out, on your way to class, this echoing in your Walkman.Thank you, Slowdive!!! <3 <3 <3

Worth it for "Don't Know Why" alone--the best song they've done since the early EPs or Just For a Day. Anytime there's an imbalance of the guy singer (I thought Mojave 3 a complete catastrophe), it's not good, so quite a few of the tracks here--for me--are blah. But the heights reached on the aforementioned soaring track--gosh, those are like Cocteau Twins with teeth! Lovely stuff. I buy a lot of records still and often end up wondering why I bother. All the comebacks--Ride, Lush, Jesus and Mary Chain, Pixies--save Swervedriver's have greatly greatly (and I mean GRATINGLY) disappointed and seemed cynical and grasping. This Slowdive LP is worthy and warranted. Up there, for me with The Black watch The Gospel According to John and that Swervedriver record I Wasn't Born to Lose You--ones that stayed in my player for MONTHS. cheers, Rachel. you rock. Tinnitus and all.

A thrill to me, Slowdive released/wrote new music/art! This band is something else. When I stumbled upon the video/song Sugar For The Pill that is when my heart may have skipped a beat. Very impressed with this album. This one is going to be a close part of my life till the end. Will be listening through this as often as I can. Souvlaki may have affected me in a way that I suspect this one may. Can't thank you enough SLOWDIVE

I have to admit that I'm old and not very cool. I didn't know about this band from their first time around. I understand that this is a "comeback" effort. But I heard a couple tracks from this album and bought it. It's a good one and stands on its own. These days it's often hard to find an album that's good to listen to all the way through, but this is one of those rare birds.

After so many other "comeback" albums from other artists proved the rule that you can't go home again, somehow I expected Slowdive to be different. And thankfully, they are. This is a fine addition to their awesome body of work, seamlessly creating something new, while still being Slowdive. It only leave fans wondering what might have been, had they stuck together longer, with fewer meanderings.

I have always loved this band but this album is just pure orgasmic brilliance.Must have if your a fan.Highly recommended

They've gone back to their absolute best. Every song is fresh and sparkly, with a huge hint of nostalgia that reminds you of their first album. I cannot get enough of this album.... Basically if you are a fan of Slowdive, buy this and be thankful they rediscovered their jangly, spangly roots.

I was somewhat of a shoegaze fan back in the day, but not hugely. Had a couple of Slowdive songs which I always like. But this album is an absolute stone cold classic. The ethereal production is breathtaking with beautifully put together layer on layer of guitar and drum soundscapes. The vocals are laden with reverb but not excessive enough to become unlistenable.This is Slowdive's best album by far!

I missed out on Slowdive first time around but cant believe they were unfairly ridiculed by the music press if this is anything to go by. An incredible album from start to finish and it sounds flawless on Vinyl. My favourite album of 2017 and a superb come back.

First time I’ve ever listened to this band and only hear of them through one of there songs being on a computer game! But took a punt on the album, and wow what an album! Great vocals and guitars all well produced! Brilliant chilling music.