Slowdive - Everything Is Alive -2023- - Album A... !!hot!! Direct
The true triumph of Everything Is Alive lies in its emotional duality. While the background of the album is steeped in mourning, the music itself is rarely depressing. Instead, it feels therapeutic. By naming the album Everything Is Alive , Slowdive intentionally focuses on rebirth.
The resurgence of the shoegaze genre in the 2020s is inextricably linked to the legacy of the "holy trinity" of the 1990s: My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive. While My Bloody Valentine remains defined by mechanical stasis and Ride by Britpop-adjacent jangle, Slowdive has undergone the most compelling artistic evolution. Following the critical acclaim of their self-titled 2017 album, the band faced the challenge of avoiding nostalgia acts.
everything is alive is a rare triumph. It is an album born from personal tragedy that chooses to celebrate the continuity of life. By integrating modular synthesis with their iconic guitar work, Slowdive created a record that feels modern, vital, and deeply necessary. Slowdive - everything is alive -2023- - album a...
The production on everything is alive is noticeably cleaner than their 90s output. There is more "air" in the mix. You can hear the pick hitting the strings and the oscillation of the synthesizers. This clarity highlights the maturity of their songwriting. They no longer need to hide behind a curtain of noise; they are confident in the space between the notes.
As a result, the record does not dwell entirely in darkness. Instead, it explores the concept of continuity, resilience, and finding light in the wake of loss. The lyrics are sparse, allowing the shifting instrumental dynamics to convey the heavy emotional weight of grief and the subsequent transition into healing. Impact and Legacy The true triumph of Everything Is Alive lies
The album’s creation was deeply influenced by the profound personal shifts experienced by the band members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recording sessions, originally scheduled for April 2020, were delayed as the world shut down. During this period, the band suffered significant losses: Rachel Goswell’s mother and drummer Simon Scott’s father both passed away in 2020.
When Reading-born shoegaze pioneers Slowdive were unceremoniously dropped by Creation Records in 1995 following the release of their ambient, avant-garde masterpiece Pygmalion , few could have predicted their eventual trajectory. Deemed relics of a bygone era by a British music press newly obsessed with Britpop, the band faded into the ether, leaving behind a cult legacy that would slowly quietly simmer over the next two decades. By naming the album Everything Is Alive ,
Following a 22-year hiatus, Slowdive reunited in 2014 and released their self-titled fourth album to critical acclaim. Since then, the band has toured extensively and experimented with new sounds, laying the groundwork for "Everything is Alive". Recorded at studios in Oxfordshire and London, the album was produced by Slowdive and Phil Ek (Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes), who helped the band refine their signature sound.
Standout tracks like "Kisses", with its pulsing electronic rhythms and intoxicating vocal melodies, and "That Heavy Sweater", featuring a surprisingly driving beat and shimmering guitars, showcase the band's ability to craft infectious, shoegaze-infused pop. Meanwhile, "Souvenir" and "Nothing is an Island" exemplify the band's more introspective, ambient inclinations, featuring contemplative lyrics and lush soundscapes.