Disco de Slowdive: “Just For a Day”

In the early 1990s Just for a Day became a cult following, sending out mellifluous dreamy dazed-out, blissed-out music, song after song in an album that spawned a new genre, sometimes called blissed-out, other times called naval-gazing or shoe-gazing. Perhaps the album's weakness, if any, is the long ponderous introduction to track one, which, unbelievably, plods too long in a monotonous fashion, so much so that a friend would not listen to the cd after being turned off by track one, only to love the album after I encouraged her to start the cd on track two, after which each song seques into the other with efforlessness and made her a fan. What makes Slowdive many fathoms better than new age or mood music is that Slowdive has melancholy, achingly beautiful melodies and soothing but never precious vocals. If you like this kind of thing, check out other blissed-out classic bands like Moose or the vintage Cocteau Twins album Victorialand. Even today some bands are carrying the Slowdive legacy such as Sway, Silver Screen (featured on Tonevendor Records),Titania, Beaumont, Lovejoy, and, as of five years ago, Blue Boy.

This is undoubtably the version of this album to get. The headlining disc "Just For A Day" is an enjoyable listen and rates four stars, but is probably the least of Slowdive's releases. Still, "Spanish Air," "Catch the Breeze," and "Primal" all rank among the band's better moments. The bonus disc, featuring Slowdive's early EPs is the main reason to buy this. Here is a breakdown of those EPs:

Slowdive- Slowdive, Avalyn 1, Avalyn 2

The band first release is a little low-fi compared to their other recordings. The songwriting is not yet fully developed either. Still, these tracks create an atmosphere that no other band can make, and it's interesting to hear the band's humble beginning.

Morningrise- Morningrise, She Calls, Losing Today

Both the production and the songwriting take a big step up for this EP. The leading track is a highlight and Slowdive's tidal wave of sound is in full effect.

Holding Our Breath- Catch the Breeze, Golden Hair, Shine, Albatross

This is my favorite of all Slowdive's releases (besting even Souvlaki). Catch the Breeze has one of the band's best melodies and makes for a great leading track, although you'll have to burn

another CD or program your ipod as this song appears on the first disc. Golden Hair may best Syd Barrett's recording with Rachel Goswell's etherial vocals and the truly majestic coda. This track almost imperceptibly melds into the equally large sounding Shine. Then the band plunges into darkness (although beautiful darkness) for the somewhat threatening sounding Albatross.

Peel Session 21/4/91- Catch the Breeze, Shine, Golden Hair

This is a good representation of Slowdive's ability to recreate their dense sound in a live setting. Catch the Breeze and Shine are similar to the studio versions, although clearly lacking in production spit and polish. The notable track here is another version of Golden Hair sung by Neil Halstead instead. It gives the track an interesting change in tone.

This release, along with the 2-disc Souvlaki, provides a comprehensive view of Slowdive. Those who want to explore further may want search for the hard-to-find Pygmalion. That album has a very different approach to Slowdive's dreamy sound, and seems to be more of a Neil Halstead solo album than a band effort, but it is a more than worth edition to the Slowdive catalog.

What a great album! Don't hesitate to get this album if you like other Slowdive, MBV, Chapterhouse, or any other 'dream-pop' band. Slowdive helped shape the genre as much as anyone and this CD (along with the Slowdive EP) shows why. Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell's guitars positively shimmer on songs such as 'Waves' and 'Brighter'. If 'Catch the Breeze' doesn't send you on a trip, look for a different line of listening. And don't just think this is the bastard stepchild to Soulvaki. While that is a great CD as well, this one lays the foundation for everything to follow. Also check out Neil and Rachel's work as Mojave 3 for a bit of a different direction. Quite worthy as well...

I'm tired of people saying Souvlaki is better than Just for a Day. In my opinion, Just for a Day is far superior. "Waves" is perhaps one of the greatest songs to come out of the whole shoegaze/dream-pop movement. Catch the Breeze, Erik's Song, Celia's Dream, and Primal are all also very good. The distortion is shimmering and gorgeous throughout, and the songs have an emotional immediacy that I don't find on Souvlaki. That may translate into "sappiness" for other listeners, but so be it. But come on--why do we listen to dream-pop if we don't like a good degree of sappiness? That's the lifeblood of this music.

This is one of my favorite shoegaze/dream-pop albums. Also check out The Autumns--The Angel Pool, or Lush--Spooky.

I can go on for days listening to Slowdive. Whether it is this album or "Souvlaki", 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 "Just for a Day" and their other musical masterpiece, "Souvlaki", 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.