neil-rachel

Watch Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell play together for the first time since 2006; Slowdive reunion could happen?

Neil & Rachel @ Cecil Sharp House last week (via Sonic Cathedral)
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“We’re still all friends who talk, and there have been some offers we’ve discussed,” Halstead confirms. “Everyone is up for doing it. It’s just a case of whether we would. The question is what is the point? Why would we do it? Because it’s kind of an exercise of nostalgia?

“But it would be nice to play together again. That part of it is really cool: getting up with those guys again. We were at school together, so it’s not just about music for us, it’s also about friendship as well. I guess it’s always in the cards. No one has said they wouldn’t do it.” – [Exclaim!]

Neil Halstead performed two career-spanning sets last week (October 23 & 24) at London’s Cecil Sharp House. He brought out his former Slowdive / Mojave 3 partner, Rachel Goswell, for a number of songs, and it was the first time they’d performed together since 2006. That set was mostly Mojave 3 songs but they did do acoustic versions of Slowdive’s “Alison” and “40 Days.” There’s videos of those, plus a few of the Mojave 3 numbers, below.

As the above interview states, Halstead says none of his old Slowdive bandmates are against getting back together if they can think of a good reason to do it. There are a couple more practical hurdles. “I can’t even remember the guitar tunings on most of those songs. I never play them,” he told Exclaim. “But it would undoubtedly be a real buzz to do them again. I just don’t know. It’s a weird thing doing reunions.”

Meanwhile, Halstead’s new “loud” group, Black Hearted Brother, released their debut album, Stars Are Our Home, back in October and you can stream a few tracks from that below. They band just released a video for “My Baby Just Sailed Away” which is recommended viewing for anyone looking to hold onto the Halloween vibes a little longer. Watch it, along with the live video of Neil & Rachel performing last week, below…

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – Alison @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – 40 Days @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – My Life In Art @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – Some Kinda Angel @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – In Love With A View @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – She Broke You So Softly @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Neil Halstead & Rachel Goswell – Prayer For The Paranoid @ Cecil Sharp House, London, 24/10/13

Black Hearted Brother – My Baby Just Sailed Away