Photos by Neil Van
22 years is an awfully long time to wait between albums. The weight of expectation alone could buckle an institution, but in the case of England’s Slowdive, the wait was just the perfect gestation period.
Of all the “Shoegaze” bands that have reformed, and I’ve seen most originally and reformed, Slowdive’s return has been the most impressive. They were always an impressive and surprisingly explosive band, but it seems the press and the public weren’t on their side originally.
Thankfully and rightfully so, Slowdive’s stature grew in their absence. Their reunion show 3 years ago at the same venue was well thought out and clearly they put the work on all the elements to make it such a compelling return.
On the day of the release of their eponymously titled fourth album, the band pulled into a packed Danforth Music Hall on a wet night. Given how fast this gig sold old, it should probably have been moved to a bigger room, like Massey Hall which would have been absolutely perfect.
Slowdive the album is such a pleasant surprise. It is beautiful in every way and contains some of the band’s best moments. The time off did them good obviously and they sound fresh, revitalized and the album is one of the best of the year. Live, the band is a pleasant surprised to the uninitiated.
Opening with new track “Slomo” the band got off to relative slow start. Soaring guitars would be the order of the night from the next track “Catch the Breeze” from their debut, and on. Really there wouldn’t be a bad note all night.
All the “Hits” got covered and sounded perfect at the Music Hall; “Crazy For You”, the epic “Souvlaki Space Station”, “Avalyn”, “Alison” and they would close out their main set with an intense read of Syd Barrett’s “Golden Hair”.
What was the most impressive element of an already impressive night was the strength of and response to the new material, which fit into their already existing canon like it was always there. “Star Roving” was my favourite of the new material but strong responses were also afforded to “Sugar for the Pill” and “No Longer Making Time”.
So well done Slowdive and don’t be waiting another 22 years for the next installment, although I hope to be there even if it takes that long.
