Slowdive - "the slab"

Photo by Ingrid Pop

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