Slowdive (song)

"Slowdive" is a song by English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released in 1982 by record label Polydor as the first single from the band's fifth studio album, A Kiss in the Dreamhouse.

"Slowdive"
Single by Siouxsie and the Banshees
from the album A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
B-side
  • "Cannibal Roses"
  • "Obsession II"
Released1 October 1982
Recorded1982
Genre
Length3:42
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Susan Ballion, Peter Edward Clarke, John McGeoch and Steven Severin
Producer(s)Siouxsie and the Banshees
Siouxsie and the Banshees singles chronology
"Fireworks"
(1982)		 "Slowdive"
(1982)		 "Melt!"
(1982)
Music video
"Slowdive" on YouTube

Music

The song (and the album) was representative of Siouxsie and the Banshees' more elaborate and experimental musical direction at the time. The overtones of the song were accentuated by a string section, including violins and a cello. AllMusic later described "Slowdive" as "a violin-colored dance beat number" with "a catchy melodic hook".[1][2] The Guardian's music critic Dave Simpson deemed it one of the band's very best recordings, noting that it "sounds like the lid being slowly released on a pressure cooker, as the band emerge from the black and flit from suspense to sensuality. They change course again musically, too, switching from brooding rock to psychedelic pop".[3]

Release

"Slowdive" was released on 1 October 1982 by record label Polydor. The song just missed becoming a top 40 hit, peaking at number 41 in the UK Singles Chart.[4]

The song's release on 12" vinyl included an extended version (which would be released on the expanded, remastered edition of A Kiss in the Dreamhouse in 2009) and an instrumental version of the third track on Dreamhouse, "Obsession", titled "Obsession II".

Legacy

The title of the song inspired the name of the band Slowdive in the early 1990s, as later confirmed by the latter's members in interviews.[5][6]

"Slowdive" was covered by LCD Soundsystem in January 2005 for an XFM radio session and was also released as the B-side of their "Disco Infiltrator" single. “Slowdive” was a consistent part of LCD Soundsystem's live set in 2005, serving as the show closer.[7][8]

Track listing
7" single
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Slowdive"3:42
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Cannibal Roses"4:30
12" single
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Slowdive (Extended)"5:45
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Obsession II"3:53
2."Cannibal Roses"4:30

Personnel
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Additional personnel
  • Anne Stephenson – violin
  • Virginia Hewes – violin

References
  1. Cleary, David. "A Kiss in the Dreamhouse – Siouxsie and the Banshees | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  2. Mason, Stewart. "Slowdive – Siouxsie and the Banshees | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  3. Simpson, Dave (29 October 2014). "Siouxsie and the Banshees: 10 of the best". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. "Siouxsie & the Banshees [uk charts]". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  5. Eisenhardt, Asa (1 August 2014). "WTSH interviews with Neil Halstead and Simon Scoot of Slowdive". When the sun hits. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. Strutt (24 February 2014). "Slowdive interview". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  7. "Juliette lickes it". nme.com. 15 February 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2011. LCD Soundsystem tore through a set which opened with ’Beat Connection’ and included ’Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’ as well as a cover of ’Jump Into The Fire’ by Nilsson and ’Slowdive’ by Siouxsie and The Banshees.
  8. Doran, John. Soundsystem And Vision. July 2005. now reproduced as "Disco Infiltrated: An Early LCD Soundsystem Interview" thequietus.com. retrieved 5 January 2016. "After a jaw dropping set that ended on a cover of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Slowdive’, one thing is fairly certain: Leeds’ relatively small Cockpit venue..."
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