Why Souvlaki is one of the Best Albums Ever (an in depth album review)

background

slowdive consists of neil halstead (guitar and vocals), rachel goswell (guitar and vocals), christian savill (guitar) and nick chaplin (the bass). they've had a few drummers, the most permanent being simon scott. the band was formed in reading, england by halstead and goswell in 1989.

when souvlaki was released, it didn't get nearly as much praise as it deserved due to the fact that it was released to the british press when it had already moved on from shoegaze to britpop. nowadays, souvlaki is such a beloved album that it is hard to imagine that it was once hated by so many. i wasn't alive then but i can't imagine ever hating this masterpiece.

i consider it a masterpiece because it is one of those albums that you can't overplay. there are certain albums that deserve to be left behind and reduced to only being good because of nostalgia, but souvlaki isn't one of them. it truly ages like wine. every time i listen to the album, i have a unique experience with it because i notice things i didn't before. whether it's a line that stands out or something about the production, something new always pops out at me. i know slowdive did something right because they managed to create an album that still sounds refreshing 28 years later.

alison

the album's first song is "alison" which is an exemplary start. this was the first slowdive song i ever heard, and i instantly fell in love with it. i came across it when stalking a girl's spotify and i will forever be indebted to her for introducing me to this band.

this song sounds like that bittersweet moment when you're out having an amazing time but suddenly get hit with the realisation that it will inevitably come to an end. it makes you feel a perfectly combined cocktail of emotions. you feel regretful, relieved and numb all at once.

when i listen to "alison", i can feel a soothing breeze against my face like i would if i was cycling home on a sunny september afternoon.

the intro instantly sucks you in with the drums, bass and guitar in the key of E which sound dreamy and warm. then, the vocals start and the song becomes a sonic texture rather than individual sounds. the outro of this song is unique and even though i've heard it a million times, i still get chills every time i listen to it.

the line that sums "alison" up (and shoegaze in general) is "cause i'm just floating" from the first verse. this song has the power to do just that, it transports you to an endless void where you just keep on floating.

machine gun

the album's second song is very relaxing. it features goswell singing in a high register with a lot of reverb making the words sound like a whisper and hard to understand. however, this doesn't ruin the song as is actually what gives the song a dreamy feel.

the chorus features an acoustic guitar and halstead's vocals which make you feel weirdly nostalgic. i find it confounding how the verse and the chorus have different textures and feelings yet work together so nicely. this slight contrast creates an interesting song that doesn't get boring after a few listens.

40 days

this is one of my favourite tracks on souvlaki. the opening makes me feel vulnerable every time i listen to it. even though that sounds negative, it really isn't. i just mean that it makes me feel open and ready to deal with any emotions that may come.

i would describe "40 days" as the audio version of what it feels like to stick your head out of a car window at night with the wind blowing against your face and through your hair making you feel like you're flying.

the vocals on this song are close to perfection. one semitone higher or lower and i don't think it would have worked nearly as well as it does. halstead's and goswell's voices fit together so beautifully that it's almost as if they're coming from just one person.

the guitar noises at the end make the song have a powerful closing.

sing

brian eno co-wrote this song giving it a different sound to other songs in the album. the intro has ambient electronic noises which create a peculiar atmosphere straight away. the best thing about the song is definitely the drums as they give it a base to stand on and add a nice, slow groove.

"sing" has an outer-space feel to it and i just know that somewhere there is an alien listening to it whilst flying their space ship.

though this song is not one of my top tracks in souvlaki, its ability to hypnotise and put you in a sort of trance is applaudable.

here she comes

"here she comes" is another song which eno co-wrote. this song is isolating and cold. unlike other songs in souvlaki, this one doesn't have that "noisy texture". rather, it focuses on halstead's vocals and the gentle chord sequence. the song is so stripped down that it makes you feel alone just like the lyrics describe. it also takes you through what feels like an almost intimate experience with halstead.

for some reason, i can imagine joel from the movie eternal sunshine of the spotless mind listening to this song whilst thinking about clementine so clearly.

souvlaki space station

this song is one of my favourite songs, not just on souvlaki, but in general. it is the longest song on the album and it starts with guitar effects. all the instruments have reverb making the song sound like an echo.

this song reminds me of the feeling when you're nervous for something and your heart starts beating insanely fast. i think this is due to goswell's vocals that sound like whispers and to the loud volume of the instruments which vibrate through your entire body.

"souvlaki space station" reflects the theme of descending which we see throughout the entire album. it's reflected in the line "i've fallen". we previously see this theme in the songs alison (which has the line "we're sinking"), machine gun ("just the weight of the water drags me down"), 40 days ("i'm always falling), sing ("watch you fall away") and even in the band's name (slowdive).

when the sun hits

probably the band's most known and beloved song is "when the sun hits". my thoughts on this song are that it is a good song but slowdive has much more to offer. this song has a sense of consistency and there is nothing wrong with it. however, i also don't think it is bringing anything new to the table and it's nothing we haven't heard before.

it is less experimental and has a more generic pop/rock sound than other tracks on the album.

i do enjoy the placing within the album though and think it works perfectly as a centrepiece.

altogether

this song has a very soft sound in every sense. the vocals and instruments are both faint resulting in a very calming song that feels like a warm blanket.

both the lyrics and atmosphere of this song create a sleepy mood.

though "altogether" is not my favourite track, it has grown on me over time and i have come to appreciate its cozy feel.

melon yellow

i have to admit, i haven't listened to "melon yellow" as much as i have to other tracks on this album so my thoughts on it may not be as spot on. that aside, this song feels like it just blends in with the rest of souvlaki and i have a hard time imagining it being anyone's favourite song.

like "altogether", the song creates a sleepy mood but it feels more like a yawn than a warm blanket.

there is nothing wrong with this song, but i also don't think the album would be affected if they hadn't included it.

dagger

"dagger" is the perfect end for the album.

it starts with one high note played on the piano and then an acoustic guitar is introduced. the melody has a melancholy sound which the lyrics reinforce.

the song is about longing for someone and missing them but knowing it's a "fucked up relationship."

"dagger" like "here she comes" feels innermost and personal.

this song would fit the mood for when you're having a grey day, missing and thinking of that person that slipped away.

overall thoughts

souvlaki has something to offer to everyone. whether that is a soundtrack to mourn a break up, an escape from real life or simply getting to explore a new beautiful atmosphere.

my favourite moments on the album are "alison", "40 days", "souvlaki space station" and "dagger". i would recommend them to anyone that enjoys dreamy and tranquil music that gives you the sensation that you are drifting away.