Slowdive’s 5th record is exactly what the title suggests: an exploration into the shimmering nature of life and the universal touch points within it. while there are parts of this record that could sit neatly next to the atmospheric quality of 1995’s ‘Pygmalion’;
Slowdive’s “the slab” is the latest addition to a new era which has seen the band rocket into the 21st century with as much panache and grace as their self-titled did six years ago. The third single off of “Everything Is Alive” is typically—and delightfully—woozy, an aura of quiet suspension permeating its rhythmic bones. “the slab” was intended to be heavier than many of the songs on the record, and it has a notable pull to it; deeper instrumentals and thick sonic textures add weight to the track, creating a loud, prowling soundscape. Over five, sprawling minutes, the song’s intensity increases to a distorted pinnacle before fading quicker than it came. It’s a spacey, moody closer to the eight-track album set to arrive next month.
‘Everything Is Alive’ also manages to break down the boundaries of what’s come before it. spanning psychedelic soundscapes, pulsating 80’s electronic elements and John-Cale-inspired journeys, the album lands immediately as something made for 2023 and beyond.
For a genre that is often thought of as divisive, and often warrants introspection, here Slowdive show their craft as the masters of it by pushing it outwards, beyond the singular; the end result being a record which feels as emotional and cathartic as it is hopeful.
The Fat Angel Sings 