Don’t mistake brand-new band slowride for good old shoegaze outfit Slowdive. They’re both from Great-Brittain, but all comparisons stop there.

slowride is the latest project from long-time collaborators and lifelong friends Ali Epstone (vocals) and Phil Jones (guitars/synths). Both love ‘90s indie and punk rock, which explains why slowride produce indie-rock anthems with layers of synth.

The band only formed early in 2020, and I Feel Like You is their first single. A great debut, although I can’t help hearing Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers’ Egyptian Reggae in it. For this track, the duo has teamed up with drummer Tomas Oliver Moore, and producers Rob Slater (Ellie Goulding, Alex Clare) and Isaac Carpenter (Awolnation, Irontom).

slowride say about I Feel Like You: “It’s about feeling powerless to being controlled. In the context of a relationship, an addiction or the censorship of free speech… It’s about awareness of one’s situation and learning to take the power back.” But they add the title can also be projected onto the current situation. “No matter what we’re all individually going through, there’s certainly a collective connection between humanity right now.”

All in all, it combines social commentary with fresh hooks and beats, that they almost can’t contain near the end.

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Werner Schlosser

I’m a music industry watcher and journalist. Worked at a CD club, a record store chain and was editor in chief of an entertainment trade magazine. Have been in the radio business since 1987, producing and presenting shows. Was music director of several stations. Also, I developed the European Border Breakers Chart, Music Moves Europe Talent Chart and ESNS Chart. CEO of Werner Bros. tekst | uitleg.