Spotlight: Slowdive

Slowdive is a band near and dear to my heart, and many years since breaking up, still are amazingly relevant (and one of my all-time favorite bands). Slowdive began in 1989 (I was a Sophomore in high school and still was listening to Led Zeppelin and Def Lepard), formed by school friend Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell. Heavily influenced by My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth (as well as The Cocteau Twins and The Byrds); mimicking the "controlled noise" sound. In 1990 they were signed to Creation Records (responsible for such great bands as Primal Scream, Oasis, Ride, Sugar, Boo Radleys, Super Furry Animals, Teenage Fanclub and Adorable; just to name a few). The band found success in England, granering rave reviews from Melody Maker and NME; epitomizing the shoegaze movement of Manchester. The band released 3 full albums before being dropped by Creation in 1995; transforming themselves into Mojave 3 and signing to 4AD. ALBUMS:

Just For A Day (1991)
• Spanish Air
• Celia's Dream
• Catch The Breeze
• Ballad Of Sister Sue
• Erik's Song
• Waves
• Brighter
• The Sadman
• Primal

Souvlaki (1993)
• Alison
• Machine Gun
• 40 Days
• Sing
• Here She Comes
• Souvlaki Space Station *
• When The Sun Hits
• Altogether
• Melon Yellow
• Dagger
• Some Velvet Morning **
• Good Day Sunshine **
• Missing You **
• Country Rain **

Pygmalion (1995)
• Rutti
• Crazy For You
• Miranda
• Trellisaze
• Cello
• J's Heaven
• Visions of La
• Blue Skied An' Clear
• All of Us

Check them out -- if you like large, atmosphere, melodic and somewhat dark music.