Christian Savill of Slowdive was doing what musicians do, demoing a few ideas with no plan in mind. He didn't think these sounded like Monster Movie (one of his other side projects), so he passed some bits and pieces around. He recorded the basic tracks with Ryan Graveface. Then Covid hit.

Beachy Head Beachy Head (Graveface)

But never mind. The recordings kept making the rounds, collecting drums from Matt Duckworth and vocals from Slowdive mate Rachel Goswell. The final result sounds something like a much more claustrophobic Slowdive. More tuneful and a bit less bombastic, but still existing in a similar showgazey universe.

One that I like to spend a bit of time in. Savill's knack of kicking the tempos just a notch above mid-tempo keeps the album rolling along, and the songs themselves have an almost ringing quality to them. They're strong and gorgeous piles resisting a beating sea.

Which fits, as Beachy Head is an English coastal chalk formation that is somewhat less well-known than the White Cliffs. Beachy Head yields when it needs to, but when the storm passes it is still standing. Just like these songs.

Jon Worley