Sell departed after just 6 months to pursue his University studies, and was replaced by Simon Scott (previously from the Charlottes). They emerged with a sound that was hard to categorise, but elements such as dreamy vocal harmonies and multi-layered effects laden guitars helped them earn the 'shoegazing' tag dished out by the music press. In reality, they were more likely to be staring at their many guitar pedals, but the name stuck.
Creation Records signed the band after hearing a demo tape, and their profile rose rapidly considering their sound was not really grounded in any commercial pop formula. The 'Slowdive' E.P. and 'Morningrise' met with disappointing sales, but the 'Holding Our Breath' E.P. reached number 52 in the UK charts. A press backlash followed soon after their debut album, as the newly created genre began to show signs of stagnation. The arrival of more adrenalised stage acts can only have added to the problem, with one such band, the Manic Street Preachers, famously stating they hated Slowdive 'more than Hitler'.
Seemingly laying low, the band were actually touring the US with labelmates Ride, and resurfaced with a second album, 'Souvlaki', which featured a Brian Eno production on three tracks. Unfortunately, they were largely considered by this time to be treading a path already well explored by the Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine.
Scott left the band in 1993 because 'he got into Acid Jazz' as the remaining members put it, and the third album 'Pygmalion' arrived in 1995, having been recorded at Halstead's home studio. Their sound had now evolved further in the direction suggested by Brian Eno's previous involvement, and ambient soundscapes were found replacing the earlier layered guitars. The confusion of the music press, alongside the emergence of Britpop effectively finished any chances of success for Slowdive with them being dropped from the Creation label.
Members of the band went on to form Mojave 3, whose music has resembled the country rock of Bob Dylan, Neil Young or the folk sound of Nick Drake, rather than the guitar pedal fuelled releases of their previous outfit.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE SLOWDIVE: My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Cocteau Twins, Chapterhouse, Curve, Mojave 3, The Telescopes, Lush, Spacemen 3, Galaxie 500, Spiritualized.