Shoegaze heroes Slowdive continue to prove why they're worthy of their legendary status by releasing amazing new songs. They're latest, "the slab," is both pure, classic shoegaze while adding a new element to their longstanding sound. "the slab" opens with an extended instrumental portion that sounds almost like if The Cure decided to give shoegaze a try. It's more cinematic than we're used to from the British band, but it's a version of them that's quite welcome. Not many bands that formed in 1989 sound like both a classic version of themselves as well as a progressive version, but most bands aren't Slowdive.
Vocalist/guitarist Neil Halstead says of the new single:
“This is the heaviest track on the record and as the name suggests we wanted it to feel like a big slab of music. We wanted it to feel very dense.”
You can watch the video for "the slab" below. everything is alive is due out September 1 on Dead Oceans, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Slowdive, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.
Fri. Aug. 11 - Sicily, IT @ Ypsigrock Festival Fri. Aug. 18 - Brecon Beacon, GB @ Green Man Festival Sat. Sep. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre [SOLD OUT] Mon. Sep. 25 - Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues Boston [SOLD OUT] Wed. Sep. 27 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT] Thu. Sep. 28 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall [SOLD OUT] Fri. Sep. 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer [SOLD OUT] Sat. Sep. 30 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club [SOLD OUT] Mon. Oct. 2 - Cleveland, OH @ The Roxy @ Mahall’s [SOLD OUT] Tue. Oct. 3 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre [SOLD OUT] Wed. Oct. 4 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre Fri. Oct. 6 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom [SOLD OUT] Sat. Oct. 7 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Mon. Oct. 9 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom [SOLD OUT] Tue. Oct. 10 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo [SOLD OUT] Thu. Oct. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield [SOLD OUT] Sat. Oct. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT] Sun. Oct. 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether [SOLD OUT] Mon. Oct. 16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield Mon. Oct. 30 - Glasgow, UK @ QMU [SOLD OUT] Tue. Oct. 31 - Manchester, UK @ Ritz [SOLD OUT] Wed. Nov. 1 - Bristol, UK @ SWX [SOLD OUT] Fri. Nov. 3 - London, UK @ Troxy [SOLD OUT] Sun. Nov. 5 - Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall Mon. Nov. 6 - Dublin, IR @ National Stadium Sat. Nov. 25 - Sun. Nov. 26 - Buenos Aires, AR @ Primavera Sound Mon. Dec. 4 - Santiago, CL @ Teatro Coliseo Thu. Dec. 7 - Asunción, PY @ Primavera Sound Sat. Dec. 9 - Sun. Dec. 10 - Bogotá, CO @ Primavera Sound
Photo by Rachel Cassels The Cairo Gang is mostly Emmett Kelly, who recorded most of their upcoming album, Goes Missing, on his own while travelling. "Be What You Are" is pure pop gold, reminiscent of British invasion bands like The Kinks and The Zombies. It features jangly guitars and some of the most infectious layered vocals you've heard in years. Luckily the beauty of this style of music is that it never quite sounds dated. It might sound like it's from a certain era that happened 50 years ago, but everything you've ever listened to since then borrows so heavily from it that it always sounds current. It's the kind of music you wish you hadn't missed, only now you haven't. Goes Missing is due out June 23rd on God? Records. You can pre-order the album now, and be sure to check out The Cairo Gang's Facebook . Listen to "Be What You Are" below, and below that are tour dates, many opening for Mikal Cronin. Sat. Sept. 5 - Portlan...
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