Slowdive / Mojave 3

I'm starting to love these two bands. They are actually the same band though, sort of. Slowdive was active until '95 when three of its members renamed it Mojave 3 and changed the musical direction somewhat. Slowdive was often genre-ized as 'shoegaze'; Mojave 3 has more of a dream pop/folk direction though they did retain alot of the textured styles and arrangements they created earlier.

I'd class Souvlaki by Slowdive as an essential album, and one of my favourites currently. It has alot of what became 'typical' for shoegaze, the dreamy soundscapes, the 'wall of sound', the droning ambience, distorted guitars. The atmosphere in the songs are beautiful, and when I really started listening i realised how the album has a subtle hook, almost a catchiness to it, can't really explain it well. I must say though, the first few listens were pretty difficult, they all sounded the same, and its definitely a record that 'clicks' after a few listens.

Souvlaki is definitely abit more 'pop' than its contemporaries too, maybe compared to My Bloody Valentine's Loveless (the supposedly definitive shoegaze record - it is awesome though, another post for another day) You can see some of Neil Halstead's pop influences coming through, a little glimpse into the future of Mojave 3. And Rachel Goswell's voice and harmonies are mesmerizing.

Slowdive - Alison /
Slowdive - Here She Comes /

Anyway, I went out and got Mojave 3's 2002 album Spoon and Rafter. Immediately i could hear the differences and similarites from the first track, Bluebird of Happiness: Halstead's voice much more upfront, yet still melancholy; the arrangement much more sparse and plaintive, but a familiar lilting guitar soundscape. Then suddenly the song shifts after a short silence, piano and drums come in, and theres this unforgettable guitar riff.. so so good. The whole song's 9 minutes, never seems overly long though. Reminds me a little of Sigur Ros, curiously. The album needs more listens still, but so far it feels very melancholy, very understated, very melodic.

Mojave 3 - Bluebird of Happiness /