Souvlaki

I tried to get into slow dive shortly after mbv finally clicked for me. I didn’t love them, didn’t hate them but I definitely didn’t listen to this album because holy shit this was so good. Apparently I just have to stick with any given shoegaze artist for like 2 hours and I’ll end up loving it. It also helps that it perfectly fit the vibe of when I listened to it.

I'm surprised that Slowdive isn't even in the original list. This record, or their self titled, should be in there at least. Incredible record.

Fabulous shoegaze album by Slowdive. Majestic soundscapes with slow melodic changes provide a perfect sunday morning feeling.

If My Bloody Valentine were the progenitors of the fuzzed-out, aggressive style of shoegaze, then Slowdive are the founders of the ethereal, spectral branch that would go on to inform so many other bands and eventually create a whole new genre in Dream pop. Both bands deserve immense credit as the definitive innovators of modern shoegaze, but I’ve always felt Slowdive has lived in the shadow of MBV for no good reason. A true loss, then, that some will never hear a discography with the likes of ‘Souvlaki’ included. Much like the titular space station, this album positively orbits – the production space is filled to the brim with reverb, the guitar lines strong and defined but turning into whispers at a moment’s notice when you reach out to grab them. As opposed to fuzz-driven shoegaze, the shimmering clean tones here give room for prominent vocals and actual dynamic contrast rather than just screeching or screaming loud. Goswell’s vocals have always been the band’s secret weapon, her breathy falsetto at once offering a grounded, human element to the soundscape while fitting perfectly with the dreamy guitar. As a result, The tracks here offer an entire gamut of spaces and sounds while remaining distinctly within the world of the LP, the encompassing explosion of ‘40 Days’ fitting thematically alongside the solitary ‘Dagger’ in perfect contrast. There’s a reason this LP stands as one of the giants in shoegaze canon, and it remains as timeless and ghostlike 30 years on from its release date. If you ever have the chance to see this band (who is still touring and putting out albums, unlike some other aforementioned shoegaze titans here), do it. Spend the money and get the ticket. Even if you’re only casually interested, it is an experience of a lifetime to hear 125 dB+ of raw, beautiful sound cascading over and enveloping every sense you possess. It goes without saying here but this was an exceptional add and a much-needed correction to the original 1001 – an absolute crime this isn’t in any of the editions, especially given how UK-focused the whole selection is.

Oh this was so lovely. Dark, dreamy and evocative. The use of distortion is properly restrained, making this much more pleasing on the ear than some shoegaze I've heard. Musically, the band also takes their time working through each idea, while resisting the urge to drag us through any extended stretches of sameness. I appreciate that immensely. Fave Songs: Alison, When the Sun Hits, Here She Comes, Sing, Machine Gun, Souvlaki Space Station

Never heard of them but really enjoyed it.

Pretty good shoegaze. 3 stars.

Very dreamy and dark. Probably good in it's kind. But I tot somehow bored listening it in one go.

Nameless shoegaze. 3/5.

Amenable enough listen but whenever I listen to this genre I find it quickly fading into the background. Not a clue what they were singing about at any point.

Rating: 6/10

Peaceful shoegaze to help you disassociate from whatever is on your monitor this morning

On the better end of stuff I've heard from shoegaze: a genre I don't care for very much

I’ve really tried to get into this over the years but it’s never taken hold.

Shoegaze, dream pop. Tostón. Un 2.

This is really just another shoegaze album. Such a niche style of music that peaked in the 90s (but is making a comeback). This is pretty typical with its barely audible singing and darker lyricism. The instrumentals are simple, dreamy, and barely existing. The hardest thing for me to enjoy shoegaze albums like this is that they feel like a fever dream of minimalism. Just not for me. 4.6/10

This hits smack dab in the middle of one of my least favorite genres - judging from the statistics served up by this site. While I don’t loathe shoegaze, I find it too dull to usually sustain an album and mostly want to sleep until it ends. Still there were some very nice tracks on here - the space Souvlaki Space Station was pretty nice. I wouldn’t object to hearing it somewhere in the background, but I don’t see myself requesting it.