One of the best ambient records of all time and one of the favourites in my collection. When Slowdive recorded the album it was a radical departure from what they had produced before and even more radically different from what the label were interested in at the time, Oasis. The label wouldn't release the record for a year after they received it and when eventually they did so, they dropped the band from their roster a week later. The band then changed their name to mojave 3, went country and signed to new label, 4AD.

Pygmalion by Slowdive is one of the most serenely beautiful albums of all time.

It is, indeed, an ambient album but built up on simply gorgeous textures of guitar, brushed cymbals and mello percussion, tambourines and cellos. Not to mention the wistful dreamy vocals of Neil Halstead and rachel Goswell.

Those of you who are into the band Low may appreciate the deathly slowness of the tempo of all these songs. THis is an album to listen to late, very late at night with all the lights off. At times, it sounds like the wind blowing outside or a tap dropping. Yet it does lack melodic direction. Melodies exists, and arrangements do build up. WHile not a record to sing with or dance to, it is a record to feel and feel deep.

'Rutti' is a magnificent introduction to the album, built around brushed cymbals, plucked electric guitar and sweeps of synth.

'Crazy for you' actually picks up tempo and Neil repeats the phrase 'there's no other love' over and over.

Miranda, built on a simple repeated guitar chord, sounds underwater and has hints of musique arabe.

'Trellisaze' has a primitive beat to the fore, slow of course while treated vocals and sound effects float around in the air.

'Cello' is, well beautifully based around a cello. Reminds me of Dead can dance or Lisa Gerrard. Its brief.

Shimmering guitars and ethereal choirs make an appearance on 'j's heaven'. Its alson one of the longest tracks on the album, but not a favourite.

'Visions of la' is gently strummed acoustic guitar and the glorious disembodied vocals of Rachel Goswell.

Deep resonant bass guitar and an insistent drum beat start off 'Blue skied and clear'. Standard vocals from Neil maintain the song until stunning soaring vocals from Rachel. Its the busiest song on the album, and the most beautiful. This one will make you cry.

'All of us' finishes the album, and the band, on unsurprisingly a slow note. Like a tap dripping, the guitar notes are plucked at lengthy intervals.


The sound of this record is equally gorgeous. For such a 'cold record' in a way it is incredibly warm. At the time this album was compared with Seefeel's Quique. For me though, the two albums were oceans apart. The Seefeel album was electronic and digital and cold. Pygmalion is the sound of wood, stone, forest. Its a perfectly natual expression in music. The reord does however include the use of drum loops, repeated samples and vocals to built the athmosphere and to hypnotise and entice teh listener. Murmured vocals can be heard in the background, out of hearing, but evocative, provocative.

The quality of the pressing too is excellent. And it comes housed in nice matt outer and inner sleeves.