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Peluché,
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The Windmill, Brixton
Good Friday, 14th April 2017
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Single/Download Review

Swervedriver
Setting Sun Cobraside

Article written by Kev W - Jan 8, 2015

It's something of a curiosity that the shoegaze scene, one that was relatively short-lived in commercial terms, has seen such a resurgence in recent years. This is even more surprising given how maligned it became as guitar music headed to the latter stages of the 1990s. Few movements see this many bands reforming (Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Medicine...), but perhaps they feel they have unfinished business and weren't given the chance the first time around. That said, it's unlikely that new material by Swervedriver will see much chart action, but it will get the coverage it deserves - assuming it's up to scratch, that is.

Generally one of the noisier and more psychedelic groups of that time, it's a bit of a surprise that their first new material since they fizzled out in 1998 isn't a sucker punch of crashing drums and blazing guitars spewing out a barrage of glorious noise. Instead they've opted for something a touch more accessible, but that's not to say it lacks a certain power. A descending guitar line chimes rather than buzzes, and the overall sound almost feels more American than British, in much the same way that contemporaries Catherine Wheel absorbed noise from elsewhere. Think Dinosaur Jr hooking up with Pavement. 'Setting Sun' is a worthy return though, and it is a strong track that whets the taste buds for more. Plus, as it builds and those guitars burst into a solo and the scorch factor goes up a notch, you suspect there may be fiercer material yet to be unveiled.

Links:
http://www.swervedriver.com/
https://twitter.com/SwervedriverUK
https://soundcloud.com/swervedriver