Customer Reviews

Souvlaki

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Slowdive are, for me, the band that most defines, and are the best representative of, the genre "shoegazer." The name "shoegazer" was originally a derogatory term (like "impressionism" for that French school of late-19th-century painters, interestingly) coined by some snotty British music journalist to apply to a crop of bands such as Ride, Lush, and My Bloody Valentine, that appeared in the early 90's and whose sound was defined by dense layers of guitar textures and that tended to effect a distinctly introverted stage presence. Actually, most people are not familiar with the term or the music: you certainly won't hear any "shoegaze" on hit radio.

While in the main, shoegaze music tended to be melodic as well as loud and textured, part of what set Slowdive apart is how much more both sweetly melodic and densely layered their music was compared with their contemporaries. They hit their stride with Souvlaki, their second full-length LP, and made the most sonically ravishing and unforgettable album of their ilk. An important part of their sound and unique charm is the male/female unison vocals of singers/guitarists Neil Nalstead and Rachel Goswell, which sounds like it could have been lifted from some sixties folk/pop outfit, only... it's not. It fits in beautifully with the expanses of sound and color wash that fill out this music, though. It all soars and lifts magnificently. There's a good dynamic range between the songs, too, from the yearning, searching "Alison," delicate reverbed-guitar picking of "Here She Comes Now," overwhelming wall-of-sound tsunami of "Souvlaki Space Station," and haunting, faraway, acoustic "Dagger"; the album never gets samey or washed-out as is the distinct danger with this kind of music. Fully-realized and a complete and satisfying experience, Slowdive's _Souvlaki_ is a real treasure.

I was tempted to give the album, a huge lush affair with the dreamy kind of music Shoe Gazers have learned to expect, only four stars. Why? Because a few delicious wispy pieces are interrupted, inexplicably, by pieces that are grating and noisy and don't contribute to the album's ethereal, intoxicated mood but jar the listener out of his or her half-sleep. However, I still have to give this album five stars because only two songs are stinkers. It's hard to find an album with eleven strong songs, full of aching, dripping melancholy. If you like Slowdive, you will surely enjoy Silver Screen's single "All I Have" and the Cocteau Twins most gazing masterpiece Victorialand. You will also be pleased with a song by Bent titled "A Ribbon for My Hair." And finally, you will be blissed out by "Spiders and Flies" by Mercury Rev.

Souvlaki is a pretty incredible album, and it certainly contains some of the most beautiful guitar sounds set to tape. Had this record not fallen victim to the usual label nonsense back in the day thanks in part to SBK records (their U.S. label), it might have garnered some more attention. But unfortunately, My Bloody Valentine's classic Loveless overshadowed many great shoegazer records of the day, including this one. Yes, Loveless is the epitome of the "shoegazer" trend, easily the best record the movement produced. But Souvlaki is a very close second, focusing on creating a lusher soundscape than Loveless' onslaught of white noise. Mixing the dreamy guitar patterns of MBV with the ethereal ambience of the Cocteau Twins, Slowdive were brilliant in their creation of surreal soundscapes. "Alison" deservedly gets attention as a brilliant pop single, but "When The Sun Hits," "40 Days," and the Eno-touched "Sing" are all not to be overlooked. The strangely-titled "Souvlaki Space Station" is another highlight, a brilliant mixture of white noise, delay, layering, and instrument manipulation creating a perfect soundscape that nobody's really been able to duplicate. This record is a must for anybody who worships Loveless.

This album combines the talents of Neil Halsted (singer and songwriter) Rachael Goswell And my favorite Brian Eno who played Keyboards for David Bowie. The album is a mixture of beautiful melodies and Harmonies in the keys of D,B,A & E. The vocal harmonies of Neil and Rachael flows beautifully and it is very colorful in it's unique guitar texture. The song, Melon Yellow has these beautiful cymbals in reverse and the minimal bass lines make this song sound dark and mystical. My personal favorites on this album are 'When the Sun Hits','Dagger'& '40 Days'. Brian Eno recorded this incredible album but he also co-wrote two songs on this album and he played keyboards on 'Sing'. This band is one of my all time favorite bands. I saw Slowdive, live two times before they broke up and the talent in this band is just amazing. They wrote so many beautiful songs and made so many major contributions to the ShoeGazer scene but in England they never were as big as they were here in the U.S. If you have a moment and love Brian Eno's music or even David Bowie, listen to this album. It's a great influence on any aspiring musician.

I can go on for days listening to Slowdive. Whether it is this album or "Just for a Day", I could almost live off of their music. Shoegazing or not... it doesn't matter. Slowdive made some magical music, while they lasted, and their albums are pearls meant to live well beyond the time they came out. As it stands, both albums provide a dreamy framework for you to work, read or write to, or simply sit back and enjoy as you would a delicious banquet you would rather repeat over and over if you could afford it.

Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell and company, who later re-formed under the name Mojave 3, afford us the treat of Slowdive in "Souvlaki" and their other musical masterpiece, "Just for a Day", both considered milestones of the shoegazing musical movement. Both albums are solid productions that perfectly represent the genre, and reach out to pull you in playing musical tricks, ending up comfortably in my list of essential albums.

As I write this, i am listening to SOUVLAKI SPACE STATION..come along, will you? For the past 10 years, I can honestly say there is not a day that goes by, without me thinking of, or listening to Slowdive. Snowboarding to this at Lake Tahoe every weekend in the winter just adds to the majestry of the vistas, and the experience. I HAVE to travel to this CD. period. Everywhere I go, its goes. I wish I could tally all the times I have rewound SING,SOUVALKI SPACE STATION,Mellon Yellow,SOME VELVET MORNING, or 40 days-it would be obscene. One part of me wishes to find an album with such an impact-and part of me doesn't. I will forever recommend this album, for anyone who has lost a love...or wants to remember what youth feels like..or just wants to kick back, and blaze a blunt. Sometimes, just sometimes, I feel as if I get some of my soul back when I listen...

Slowdive's first album "Just For A Day" was pretty good but "Souvlaki" was the perfection of their style. The sound was made more delicate on this CD, where most of the songs feature electronic sounds designed to make you feel like a fresh, invigorating breeze is tingling all parts of your body. It's not pop in the usual sense and all the light, airy droning may (and have) cause some people to say this is boring; however, I see a lot of appealing melodies here and better yet, the vocals are actually pleasant (if again, a bit on the airy side). This album is not going to change the world--and I get the feeling that the group could stretch out a bit more--but it does touch a chord, and if you're in the mood for subtle, relaxed and (again) airy psychedelia, this one is perfect. The presence of sonicmeister Brian Eno makes it complete but interestingly, he is not credited on "Souvlaki Space Station", the album's centerpiece and the one track that reminded me of his experiments with Roxy Music (the echo-delay-to-the-stars "For Your Pleasure"). Although the song is a treat, my favorite here is "Dagger", where the group bring out the acoustic guitars for one of those 'up close and personal' moments. Too bad it wasn't a bigger hit.

I love this CD. It's so different from anything else I own. There is definitely a LOT of feeing in this music. The songs, and the album as a whole, are very cohesive. I definitely think Slowdive have a lot of different influences; for example, I think Just For A Day sounds a bit reminicent of Disintegration, Cocteau Twins.. maybe even a bit of Closer. But on Souvlaki, the sounds are really blended together into a new whole.. combining other sounds like MBV.. only the production is just about perfect on this album.

I was actually really turned off by the guy's voice when I first heard Alison, but I gave the CD another try a few weeks later. Souvlaki Space Station was the first one to catch my ear. Then Altogether. Then Melon Yellow. Then 40 Days. Etc. I basically love every song here, except maybe Here She Comes, which is still good. Sing is nice and adds variety as Rachel Goswell takes lead vocals. The opening cuts are good, When The Sun Hits is accessible and amazing, but I think the two that I really just can't get enough of are Melon Yellow and Dagger. Just awesome. Some Velvet Morning is quite atmospheric and moody and a fitting bonus track. The rest of the album goes quite ambient after that, with the next two cuts sounding almost a bit somewhere between This Mortal Coil and Aphex Twin, and the final cut actually sounds like it could have been lifted directly from Blood to me.

Also, I was a bit surprised to hear the manipulated feedback ending of Souvlaki Space Station. Radiohead do virtually the same thing (a few years later) with Karma Police. Perhaps it's a tribute.

It's hard to imagine anyone not liking this CD, unless you're a person who was really into Just For A Day prior to the release of this.

This CD is absolutely superb. This beautiful, ethereal music follows in the footsteps of early Catherine Wheel and Cocteau Twins, both of whom I listened to in the early 90's, so I am wondering-- how did I miss this gem?

The songs gently burrow their way into your head and you will find yourself still "listening" long after the CD player is turned off. Think Catherine Wheel, Love & Rockets and Cocteau Twins all blended together and that gives you an idea of this otherworldy, atmospheric sound.

If you are a fan of the early 90's fuzzy and melodious "shoe-gazing" sound, you will love this CD. Highly recommended!

This will be a band to rememebr no doubt about it, all the albums simply magnificent, this is a shoegazing charged with fully emotion 100 porcent..
all songs are magnificent, specially WHEN THE SUN HITS..
this is without any dobut heir best song ever,,,,this is a song to get in love, hope, fury .rage, life and death,

please buy any album of this band, you wont regret,

remember always WHEN THE SUN HITS,,,listen to SLOWDIVE..
and HITS HARD...

cheers from venezuela..Maurice