Since the early ’90s heyday of ethereal ear-shattering indie, thousands of bands have picked up the mantle with 21st century interpretations of a psychedelic wall of sound. The innovative guitar movement popularised by My Bloody Valentine and Ride has been copied and refined by a plethora of floppy-fringed guitar pedal fetishists that came in their noisy wake.
Thanks to Rachel Goswell’s vocals, Slowdive were always a little bit closer to the Cocteau Twins than Kevin Shields. Their eponymous fourth album and first in 22 years is a very modern take on their classic sound. It has a lightness of touch and sonic sharpness thanks to Heba Kadry, who has worked with The Mars Volta, The Sea & Cake, Future Islands, Neon Indian, Blanck Mass and numerous others.
Goswell and Neil Halstead still combine beautifully to offer a two-pronged male/female line of gentle attack. The lead single ‘Star Roving’ is a perfect appetiser, with shimmering guitars and cooing vocals.
Slowdive is not quite as good an album as last year’s swoonsome Minor Victories debut – which saw Goswell join forces with Justin Lockey of Editors and Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai. But this is a very fine return to the fray nevertheless.