Though the aptly named Slowdive doesn't exactly drone, the British quintet's deliberately atmospheric ditties would probably sound equally nifty — and not that different — at twice their intended speed. Like Ride, Moose, Chapterhouse, Curve, Blur, and Lush, Slowdive is part of a new wave of U.K. bands that cynics gleefully call ''shoegazers'' — mainly because, they contend, the groups stare at their feet a lot on stage. Unlike most of their compatriots, though, Slowdive has a sound that's never off-putting; Just for a Day combines the somberness of pre-pop star Cure with Fleetwood Mac circa 1971's Future Games, and is airily delicious.
One band that won't be getting that corporate sponsorship from Halcion, however, is My Bloody Valentine — whose divine noise is anything but soothing and whose innovations inspired this whole scene in the first place. Loveless, out since November, is simply the most astounding-sounding album produced last year — a collage of voices, looping, and reverberated metallic guitars, and effects guaranteed to convince unprepared listeners their CD players are dying. Guitar feedback used to freak out recording engineers in the '60s; one listen to Loveless, and they'd be lining up to be committed. Just for a Day: B; Loveless: A
