The Story of Slowdive's "Sleep"

Рет қаралды 14,369

Жыл бұрын

"Sleep" is a beautiful song by Slowdive, in fact in my opinion their best by a mile. But it was never actually officially released. What's the story here?
This is a quick little video, but one I've wanted to try to do for some time now. I hope you like this change of pace!
Social Media:
Patreon: / lofimediareviews
Twitter: / mfreckelton99
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Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/mfreckelton99/
Footage used from:
Lots of Slowdive concerts.
Music:
"Catch the Breeze", "Alison", "Sleep" and "Machine Gun" by Slowdive
"Sleep" by Eternal
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Пікірлер: 94

@hamburgerlover9825 10 ай бұрын

Souvlaki was not a smash hit when it came out. Slowdive got screwed by the press once grunge became popular and seemingly no critics cared about they type of music they played anymore. Souvlaki is a massively important album but it took years of fans discovering their music after they had already broken up for slowdive to really get the public attention they always deserved.

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

You are absolutely right, "smash hit" was a bad choice of words there. My intent there was to say that's by a large way their most popular album and one of the most popular shoegaze albums in general. But I definitely phrased that wrong. For your service, I pin you so everyone can see this correction

@brysimm404 7 ай бұрын

Grunge was certainly a factor, but the emergence of Britpop was even more significant to Slowdive [and Shoegaze in general] being treated like a fad and swept aside by the British music press - especially since Oasis was also signed to Creation Records and became hugely successful. Also, it's pronounced "REDing", not "READing" like it's spelling.

@nathanjamesbaker 6 ай бұрын

@@michaelinlofi "smash hit" was also a bad choice of words for another reason: "hit" usually refers to a song, rather than an entire album.

@bendingbananas6540 11 ай бұрын

Sleep is the song that introduced me to this genre

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

What an introduction that must have been (my shoegaze intro was Sometimes by MBV, personally)

@icelegacy4987 10 ай бұрын

for me it was when the sun hits when I heard it in a store and shazammed it, but sleep made me love slowdive

@rolloxra670 7 ай бұрын

Same ❤

@BrushCountryAg06 6 ай бұрын

Same for me.

@GigaSaulGoodman 6 ай бұрын

Same!! Most people were introduced by When The Sun Hits but finding Slowdive through Sleep is just a new feeling for me

@kristiansojak5955 11 ай бұрын

i remember standing in train and listening to "sleep" while cute girl stood up next to me, scrolled her spotify and chosed souvlaki. then i did the same thing, i will never forget her eyes. i have never seen her since that moment. guess she's out there somewhere.

@bhamacuk Жыл бұрын

I was a major fan since 91 when I bought the majority of the vinyl releases, which I still have thankfully. First heard Sleep in 2010/11 from the demo collection and fell in love with it.. the best we have for now are the fan made remasters I guess. Good video!

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

Thanks, mate! I'll be honest I think part of its success on KZfaq is down to the lo-fi aspect of the tape rip. It's something I wish I'd touched on a bit more in this video, but it might be worth revisiting in a video on its own...

@maureenchristie5708 5 ай бұрын

It’s one of my favorite songs of all time

@jamesonesposito 6 ай бұрын

Sleep, I believe, silver screen, i saw the sun, all goated lost trakcs

@anthonyc3979 8 ай бұрын

my favorite song from them

@richmit7154 Жыл бұрын

i am forever grateful por this song, not only because its slowdive´s masterpiece by itselft being a DEMO, butbecause its the song that introduced me to this whole genre, thx for the yt algorithm

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

Cheeky as it was for whoever hacked their Spotify to release it like that, I am grateful it happened. That song came at a point in my life when I really needed it

@xtreme1321 4 ай бұрын

They played this when I saw them last October in Los Angeles! What a special moment. The whole concert was sublime, but Sleep was a highlight

@michaelinlofi 4 ай бұрын

I managed to snag a ticket to their show in Sydney last year and they played it there too. Damn near lifted off the floor

@Hilaire_Balrog 9 ай бұрын

I have listened to Slowdive since the mid 90s but only came across “Sleep” maybe 5 years ago on KZfaq . Possibly on the channel you mentioned. I remember thinking “I’ve never heard this song before!” I could not find it anywhere for sale so i downloaded the audio and it now sits on my computer. It really is an amazing song.

@nicholascorrea2997 11 ай бұрын

wow, i've been wondering for so long why this song wasn't realeased. i hope that it get's a proper release soon, with the original recording, it's probably my favorite song of theirs too

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

If they released all those demo tapes they would sell a million in no time flat I'm sure of it

@ffsFonix 11 ай бұрын

That one youtube upload gained Slowdive so many younger fans like myself

@gravity4576 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for covering this bud ! I discovered it few years back and always wondered why can't I find any official release. You earned a new life time subscriber today !!

@qfapodcastabouthowardstern 7 ай бұрын

I came across the demo at least a dozen years ago, probably closer to 20 by my recollection when a Slowdive fan sold me a CD of Souvlaki/Blue Day on ebay and thoughtfully included all kinds of CD-Rs of live gigs and assorted demos, and thought most of the demos were rightfully discarded, "Sleep" was an absolute gem and when the band reunited, one of the top requests including by yours truly. I'm certain the band knew full well what joy it would bring the fans to pull this one out for the faithful and I'm glad they did. Not sure I'd care to hear a new version of it but a cleaned up version of the demo with possibly the odd overdub might be in order.

@pinoytrash 7 ай бұрын

i'll never forgive the youtube recommendation gods for making this my first slowdive song all those years back. this changed my brain chemistry forever. god but i love this song so much.

@assassinweed5390 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the Video, Fan of that track since many years, cheers

@ItsD3vil 6 ай бұрын

I don't usually comment on videos, but I really enjoyed this one. Thanks!

@ajlarrea 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for this video. "Sleep" was my introduction to Slowdive and has become one of my favorite songs of all time. It was frustrating that I couldn't find the album it was on, nor could I find it on streaming services. This explains everything. Here's to an official release for this beautiful song.

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@rong2912 9 ай бұрын

Greatest song ever.

@Max_L1nares 10 ай бұрын

The song and the video are masterpieces

@Akerfeldtfan 4 ай бұрын

I adore this track, it was my introduction to the band

@MexicanPimpForLife Жыл бұрын

Great vid man!

@michaelinlofi Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@jackpowrie3 Жыл бұрын

Also, slight correction, sorry; "Reading" the place is pronounced "RED-ing", not "Reading".

@michaelinlofi Жыл бұрын

Ah, bugger. I had a feeling I'd fluffed on that. Thank you for the clarification!

@jackpowrie3 Жыл бұрын

@@michaelinlofi No problem; UK towns/cities can have funny phonetics.

@nathanjamesbaker 6 ай бұрын

I started to watch this video, but I'm only two minutes in and first heard the guy refer to Souvlaki as a "smash hit album," and then I heard the mispronunciation of Reading. I just can't listen further. I'm out.

@cult2 6 ай бұрын

read-ding

@Yan-dk4cl 10 ай бұрын

I remember that I knew slowdive for sleep, it was afternoon and I was into my alt indi pop music, like surf curse, the drums etc, and I saw a cover by a video song and it was that typical cover video by sleep, you know the typical pic by Rachel singing, so I got a sad vibe watching only the cover and when I listened I never thought it was like indi music or a grunge music, it was new planet that I met, time after I started to listen Alison and after listen all the band and now I know the history of slowdive…

@deepfocus888 11 ай бұрын

1:51 I never knew that Slowdive played CB’s, wow!!! I wasn’t into them back then but def would have had my chance to see them in that small venue. Thanks for this video well done.

@michaelinlofi 11 ай бұрын

I'll be honest I didn't realise that was the CBGB until you pointed it out. I just looked up "Slowdive live 90s" on Google Images lmao. However now I know that, delighted that Slowdive and Talking Heads share something in common!

@chrispell95 Жыл бұрын

Great vid!

@michaelinlofi Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@marcusho3133 9 ай бұрын

Great video. FYI Slowdive played Sleep on the 2023 tour through the US

@michaelinlofi 9 ай бұрын

They played it down here too! I saw a show in Sydney thanks to a kind fan selling me a ticket, and they played Sleep that night too. Transcendent experience, hope they come back with some Everything is Alive tracks too

@VIRTUALESENCE Жыл бұрын

i love this so much maan, i say this honestly but slowdive literally changed my life i wish i had enough money to buy a guitar .. but i'm saving up !!

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

You and me both, mate. The moment I get enough cash for even a cheap Squier Strat I'm recording a lo-fi shoegaze album

@vialtrucking 2 ай бұрын

Recently I found it STILL available on spotify from a playlist! I'm not sure why or how it hasn't been completely removed, but it's quite interesting. Let me know if you want the playlist link!

@michaelinlofi 2 ай бұрын

I think I know the upload you mean! I have it saved too

@jackpowrie3 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Subbed.

@michaelinlofi Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@malakai9738 2 ай бұрын

Sleep is basically Slowdive's Stone In Focus

@michaelinlofi 2 ай бұрын

Follow Aphex Twin listener spotted

@malakai9738 2 ай бұрын

@@michaelinlofi I actually discovered slowdive through seeing Souvlaki in memes on Instagram alongside various Radiohead and Aphex Twin albums

@bionicnomad Жыл бұрын

great video! if you like sleep check out, i thought i saw and hide yer eyes. hope you get to see them live in concert too

@michaelinlofi Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad to hear this video worked out, and will check out those songs for sure! Unfortunately their Sydney show sold out as fast as anything, so I'll have to catch them next time! (Edit: someone sold me their ticket, I ended up seeing them in July!)

@GoGoyuju Жыл бұрын

Greaaat

@keithbutler2222 Жыл бұрын

I saw these live around the time of their first album. Blur were playing just down the road...a tough decision but it was a great gig...of course in the morning Blur got all the rave reviews...

@michaelinlofi Жыл бұрын

Well, Britpop would have been the thing the papers were going mad about at the time. A damn shame that came at the cost of ignoring acts like Slowdive...

@keithbutler2222 Жыл бұрын

@@michaelinlofi It is good to see them finally getting the recognition they deserve

@kypdur4746 11 ай бұрын

@@michaelinlofiPygmalion and shoe-gaze were definitely slated during the britpop era. But in 1991, Blur were a bigger band, due mainly to "There's no other way", which did well in the charts. Britpop wasn't really a thing until 95 onwards, although there were strong hints of what was to come throughout 92-94. It really was a great time to buy records and go to gigs/clubs. But that history has been carefully manipulated over the years. Shoe-gaze was dead (in the eyes/ears of the music press) well before "britpop". The NME and melody maker considered shoe-gaze old hat, tedious and self indulgent. Some of their articles were down right vicious. However, the records were still being released and bought. Thank you Creation records! (David Cavanagh's book is an excellent history of that label). I treasure those releases and listen to them far more than the britpop records. Pygmalion and 5 EP were/are beautiful records and it's great that Slowdive are getting the critical acclaim, as well as a younger fanbase. Just shows how great their music is. Good video 👍

@officialytheCD 9 ай бұрын

they started performing it again in 2023 with a more everything is alive arrangement hopes for a 30th anniversary souvlaki with the original on

@michaelinlofi 9 ай бұрын

Yep! I saw them play it in Sydney in July. Damn near lifted off the floor

@user-wu8sj3ee3d 11 ай бұрын

I got it off of Napster long ago.

@thinkjin 11 ай бұрын

in apple music, there are some unreleased song in 'elricfd - Slowdive Into' idk who is he but he just uploaded those songs by his name...

@michaelinlofi 11 ай бұрын

It's the same on Spotify. It's a bit cheeky if you ask me, but I also don't hate the convenience of being able to add Sleep to my playlists

@devilskitchen 9 ай бұрын

Really interesting, thanks. It is a great Slowdive track (but there's so many to choose from!)... BTW (and I'm probably not the first to point this out) the English town of Reading is pronounced "redding" not "reeding"... ;-)

@michaelinlofi 9 ай бұрын

Oh yeah, the pronunciation of Reading was one of the first things I got done for when this video started picking up steam. Thanks for watching!

@lonelycake4114 9 ай бұрын

Is it just me or do they sound like cranberries Not surprised they didn’t get any recognition

@kikkerslikker4533 9 ай бұрын

1:29 those haircuts 💀

@michaelinlofi 9 ай бұрын

It sure was the 90s

@smoort 8 күн бұрын

لوما هاي الاغنية ما اطب بعالم الشويجيز ابد

@smoort 8 күн бұрын

ءوف يعني Sleep مو مالت سلودايف اصلا؟

@budybradley8257 9 ай бұрын

I bought the eternal single on Sarah records when it came it. Sarah Records is the best label ever. I collected almost all their singles.

@coldvoid 4 ай бұрын

So called 'press' gave them so much shit back in the day, it's madness 😓

@gizzystrype5042 10 ай бұрын

Reading is pronounced 'Redding'

@michaelinlofi 10 ай бұрын

Oh believe me, I'm aware. I've had a few people do me for that one already 😅 In my defence though, I've never been to Reading, or anywhere in England outside of London

@slayerhuh404 7 ай бұрын

lmao and of course she has "The CURRENT THING" in her bio

@michaelinlofi 7 ай бұрын

Lol what? If your key takeaway from a video about how Slowdive didn't get to release one of their best song is "Ukraine in bio bad" (something that was on screen for all of three seconds) then your priorities are catastrophically out of whack.

@slayerhuh404 7 ай бұрын

@@michaelinlofi cool vid tho!

@JohnBall-cd4cg 4 ай бұрын

Oh noes. Rachel isn't a RuZZki lover.