slowdive: classic or dud?

I'd be plenty interested in a Slowdive reunion but I don't necessarily think this presages it

i quite like it, though i probably need to spend more time with it. some of the production choices seem a little odd.

It's really nice to hear THAT sound in a new context, I'll certainly check it out.

I looked up Rachel and she's got her hands full with a special needs child, unclear if she's doing it as a single mom.

also the whole health problems thing

yeah Rachel seems to have been dealt a pretty difficult hand in life - not sure she could ever get back to touring

I like this band; they are the kind of good, dreamy/hazy-sounding-but-not-in-a-dull-or-half-assed-way music that I cite when my bad-taste-having hipster friends accuse me of backwardness for not liking yellow beach dream or w/etf

this spring I came to appreciate "Country Rain", which I had previously overlooked, via going thru my itunes for songs about rain—it cheered me up so much, I had to get stoned to properly appreciate my own feelings

Looks like Neil and Rachel are doing a couple of shows together:

http://www.creation-records.com/slowdive-members-reunite-for-london-gigs/

Aaand... they're sold out already.

:-/

I love how everyone's screaming about this being a Slowdive 'reunion' of sorts across the web when I'm all "Uh...probably just Mojave 3 songs, guys." Not that I mind those at all!

"(i don't mean to) wonder" sounds way more wall of gaze than any mojave 3 though

I'd be very surprised if they didn't do one or two Slowdive songs.

xp

I'm sure if they pull out "Dagger" people will freak.

I think they were known to do that song outside of Slowdive a fair number of times. Probably easier to play and remember how to play.

: P

I saw Neil solo a couple of months ago and he played Alison and 40 Days

That's honestly good to hear! Took him long enough.

yeah that was a nice surprise - hearing him do 40 days on his own on acoustic guitar confirmed that his path has been one of gradual evolution rather than the tabula rasa Mojave 3 seemed at the time

didn't get a ticket. hope there's someone yelling PLAY TRELLISAZE the whole time

Neil on FB
"Am very pleased to say my dear old mate Rachel Goswell will be joining me for a few songs in London at Cecil sharpe house in a few weeks . This is NOT a Slowdive reunion !! seem to be few posts on the Internet suggesting it is ... Not sure why ...ok then .. x"

Well of course they played Slowdive songs, two of them in fact. Have to say though, Rachel looks a bit uncomfortable in these clips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN_MQs3CNrw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56WxxC-Z3DM

http://i.imgur.com/Sx4cwoj.jpg

you don't say...

Alison would be my POO for Slowdive.

Rachel looks likes she wants to be anywhere but there. I guess a Slowdive reunion is not to be expected

The acoustic Alisons Halstead does are lovely.

So having contributed to this thread once or twice over many years... I wrote something about Slowdive on my blog. You might be interested, or you might not be.

http://agoldfishcalledregret.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/november-music-2/

I've never bothered to listen to Pygmalion but am tempted to after reading your blog

Yeah, that was great, Rob

Thank you! I think Pygmalion is under-rated - its not generally known as being in a slightly different style to their other albums, so tends to be ignored. I hope in a small way I can change a few people's opinions and show them how good it is.

I didn't know he looked so much like Badly Drawn Boy in person...

slightly different style to their other albums

no, it's *very* different. like the work of an entirely different band than the one that did Souvlaki.

also it's hardly ignored, it seems to be the one that gets the most attention/repeat play these days

It has always been my favourite and I know there are a decent number of people who agree, including Neil Halstead. I think everyone loves "Blue Skied An Clear" and "Crazy For You".

Agree that Pygmalion is not necessarily ignored, however it has a tendency to be left out of the equation when Slowdive is discussed within the context of 'shoegaze'. Which is unsurprising, considering it's not a 'shoegaze' album. It is great. I love 'Souvlaki' as well, though..

so...

http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/01/slowdive-hint-at-reunion/

Hey Rob, I really enjoyed your writing on Slowdive. I also bought Pygmalion and Ask Me Tomorrow at the same time and I couldn't agree more with your feelings and thoughts on both records. Reminds me that I need to find an original copy of Pygmalion.

Wow just realized the Pygmalion reissue had a dozen bonus tracks. How come I didn't know this??

The vinyl reissue has bonus tracks?? Anyone know if this makes it worthwhile to get instead of an original?

one time I found an entire album of supposed Slowdive songs recorded for an unrealized album. The title was something involving an "Elephant"? And also I found something that was supposedly their cover of "Sweet Child O' Mine". Was never able to confirm that these were actually Slowdive, though they sounded consistent with their stuff, though stripped down more than most of "Souvlaki."

yeah there's a huge bunch of Souvlaki era demos that can be easily found on the web.
re. Pygmalion reissue - not sure the bonus stuff appears on the vinyl edition, it's on the second disc of the CD version

Yeah, doesn't look like the vinyl reissue has bonus tracks.

The Pygmalion Demos (as noted, on the second disc included with the CD reissue on Cherry Red) are really good! There is some overlap with Pygmalion, but at least half of it is other material... I listen to it a lot!

can't find the 2CD reissue anywhere on Amazon - might just get the thing on iTunes

http://www.amazon.com/Pygmalion-Slowdive/dp/B003UN58WO/

Aha thanks. So it's a US only thing then?

nah, it's on Cherry Red, so it's an import in the US... if you're in the UK it should be pretty easy to find?

yeah, i just added it to my wishlist on the us amazon, it's listed under "audio cd import (2010)"

i love those demos/outtakes, i get more of a feel of the transition btwn souvalki and pygmalion. and there's one or two with eno, right? is the sound cleaned up much? i don't have a problem with the murkiness of the leaked stuff of yore.

ok, just realized that it is easily available on Amazon UK - must have used a wrong search term. Excited!

I Am The Elephant You Are The Mouse is a soundtrack.
I Saw The Sun is a bootleg of a scrapped album before Souvlaki.
There is a bunch more stuff like "Beach Song", "Take Me Down", "Sleep" (dont think these were on the reissues?) and a few more.

If Pygmalion Demos got added to Pygmalion then those other unreleased/rare things could have their own release. I'm sure the band wanted them released.

Getting closer... http://www.slowdiveofficial.com/
So what's it gonna be? Reunion tour or new music?