The Soft Cavalry - The Soft Cavalry

The Guardian 80

(Bella Union)

Slowdive’s reunion in 2014 didn’t just spawn a great fourth album and sensational victory-lap tour. The band’s singer-guitarist Rachel Goswell met her husband Steve Clarke when he tour-managed the reformed act and the pair have now created their own album as The Soft Cavalry, exploring the same spacey, effects-heavy pastures as Slowdive but with licence to roam further.

The album starts with the lead singles Dive and Bulletproof, which are solid enough indie-rock efforts. Clarke’s vocals dominate the early songs, although occasionally the heavy processing on his hazy voice has the disagreeable effect of pulling him closer to Goswell’s insubstantial whispers while distancing him from the listener.

Pitchfork 58

Though the ethereal presence of Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell is unmistakable, the UK band’s self-titled debut is often tedious.