Since the inception of Noise Is Power Music, we’ve been vocal of our love for shoegaze legends, Slowdive. Their latest album (everything is alive) received a solid review from us, while Souvlaki ranked among our 5 favorite albums from 1993. Safe to say, we have fostered our fair share of conversation concerning the presence and legacy of this band! That said, throughout it all, we have yet to discuss the brilliance of Slowdive side project, Mojave 3.

Their 1995 debut, Ask Me Tomorrow, is definitive documentation of Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead’s songwriting prowess. While Slowdive classics like Just For A Day and Souvlaki are elevated by their psychedelic mixes, Ask Me Tomorrow is more song-centric and focused by comparison. 

Accompanied by Slowdive drummer Ian McCutcheon, pianist Alan Forrester, and ex-Chapterhouse guitarist Simon Rowe, Ask Me Tomorrow was released shortly after Slowdive’s breakup following their experimental Pygmalion record. Keeping this in mind, Ask Me Tomorrow can be perceived as an attempt by Goswell & Halstead to return the focus to songcraft instead of soundscapes. This results in nine, blissfully simple and emotionally heavy tracks that will all become eventual favorites. Later Mojave 3 records see the group deeply leaning into an alt-country direction, but Ask Me Tomorrow captures the perfect balance between Slowdive’s ethereal charm and classic Western romance ballads. 

Lead single, “Love Songs on the Radio”, serves as a fantastic sampler for the sounds that are played with throughout Ask Me Tomorrow. A delicate, arpeggiated guitar finds itself entwined with an evocative pedalsteel melody, as they both effortlessly coast over the sizzle of McCutcheon’s snare. Goswell’s vocal performance is one of her best, which can be said for many of her contributions to Ask Me Tomorrow. While her vocal abilities were always present on Slowdive’s output, hearing them on clear display is a treat. Recollecting feelings of pure love, Goswell’s harmonic choices and relaxed disposition elevates “Love Songs on the Radio” to be an early highlight. Thankfully, this album keeps its momentum high with its follow-up, “Sarah”.

“Sarah” shares more in common with previously released Slowdive material, though the simplified instrumentation of Mojave 3 works greatly in highlighting the vocal interplay between Goswell and Halstead. Tracks such as “Sarah”, “Candle Song 3”, and “Where Is the Love” further prove why the pairing of their voices is essential in making this record work, while Forrester’s piano holds the core of these songs together. Look no further than our favorite track, “Tomorrow’s Taken” as proof! 

Forrester’s piano arrangement sits perfectly alongside Halstead’s acoustic contributions, serving as the perfect backdrop for Goswell to recount her longing for a lost lover. “And I think it's all I got / You've taken all I got / And I'm sorry to hold your hand / But I miss you and your life” is quite the chorus, as the apparent emotional connection to the lyric makes it all the more memorable. To us, “Tomorrow’s Taken” is an easy candidate for the strongest moment on Ask Me Tomorrow. That said, the album’s brilliant closer, “Mercy”, excels in a different light.
 
Reaching the end of the record, “Mercy” is the track that most closely resembles the “Slowdive sound”. The song’s driving rhythms, Halstead’s lead vocal, and weight of the song’s choruses are all strong attributes that successfully bring Ask Me Tomorrow to a close. While latter-half tracks such as “Pictures” and “After All” have their moments, “Mercy” is a clear highlight! 

For those looking to dive further into the songcraft of Slowdive, Ask Me Tomorrow is one of the most defined and concise projects that its members have created. It is just as essential as any of Slowdive’s more-celebrated efforts, which warrants a listen if you have yet to hear it. 

Are you familiar with Ask Me Tomorrow? If so, what are your thoughts?!

As the holidays creep in, we hope everyone's doing well!

Hopefully, you've checked out our picks for five of the best releases for 2023 by now. If not, scroll down and give it a read! We aim to continue publishing throughout the holiday season, though our schedule may vary/be subject to change.

In the meantime, you can check out last week's episode of Out Of Circulation (via episode archive) and catch this week's episode on WNHU this Thursday from 1-2 PM EST! We will be taking a pause on Out Of Circulation for after this week, but plan on returning by mid-January/February at the latest.

Thank you to all who have supported and shared our publication this year... It is a true labor of love and honor to keep Noise Is Power active! Keep an eye out for a new article Wednesday.

​Modern English - ​Long in the Tooth / Crazy Lovers

While not a full-length LP, we found ourselves enjoying these two singles from this legendary post-punk group throughout the year! Since the release of Long In The Tooth in September, Modern English has remained in our rotation via their ability to relate pop-melody with brilliantly constructed guitar passages. Crazy Lovers was released as recently as November, though its early appearance during their KEXP session made it an early contender for our favorite track of 2023.​ If these two singles are any indication of their upcoming album (1 2 3 4, out 2024!), we have much to look forward to upon its full release. For anyone looking to get their new wave fix in 2023, Modern English continued to establish their presence as a recognizable force within the genre.

Serving as the third offering from this Brooklyn trio, Strange Disciple sees Nation of Language crafting tunes far more contemplative and developed than the anthemic nature of their debut LP (Introduction, Presence). Modern English's releases through 2023 proved that new wave originators can still release fantastic singles, but Nation of Language serves as an example of the new guard of artists keeping the genre alive. Fans of New Order and Depeche Mode will find themselves enraptured by the majesty of "Sole Obsession" and "Sightseer", though the entirety of Strange Disciple documents the band treading new and exciting territory. It can be difficult to breath new life into such a time-tested genre and musical approach, yet Nation of Language have certainly found a way to do so! Looking forward to what the band has in store come 2024.

If only we knew about this record sooner... On Everything Harmony, The Lemon Twigs effortlessly call upon the songwriting prowess of Alex Chilton and Brian Wilson to craft rock music that is both perfect in a modern and past context. Sure, many bands attempt to adapt a "retro" styling to their music, but few have the songwriting ability to back it up. Upon first listens to singles "In My Head" and "Corner Of My Eye", it becomes apparent The Lemon Twigs are a cut above their contemporaries. Throughout Everything Harmony, brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario write a love letter to 70s power-pop and psychedelia with fantastic harmonies and earworm choruses throughout. It will be quite a challenge to follow-up on an album of this caliber, but The Lemon Twigs have proven their ability to do so.

Returning with their first new album in nine years, the quality of the material on Blonde Redhead's Sit Down For Dinner was apparent to us upon release. The two-part titular track, "Not For Me", and "Kiss Her, Kiss Her" served as immediate reminders for why Blonde Redhead remain a premier source for meticulously crafted indie and alternative rock. That said, we were grateful to check out their performance at Brooklyn Steel, during which a majority of Sit Down For Dinner was featured. The production of this record is sublime, but hearing these songs in a live context only enhanced our love for this album! For all intents and purposes, the band have truly given fans something special with their return to releasing studio recordings. We only hope the band does not keep us waiting another nine years for the follow-up!

It comes as no surprise that the solo debut of Fontaines D.C.'s frontman became of our year-end favorites. As longtime Fontaines fans, Grian Chatten effectively established himself as a powerhouse frontman on the band's most recent offering, Skinty Fia. However, his newfound level of confidence and individuality is more fleshed out via the diversity of Chaos For The Fly. The Smiths-esque shuffle of "Fairlies" is heavily contrasted by the Sinatra swing of "Bob's Casino", yet Chatten's enthralling lyricism and delivery brings it all together. It is disappointing that this record was seemingly glossed over by many American music publications, as Chatten turned in an exceptional solo debut and our favorite record of the year. We look forward to seeing what he brings to future solo releases and (hopefully) the next Fontaines D.C. release! 


Did you have any favorites from 2023? Let us know in the comments!

Hello, everybody! It's an exciting week at Noise Is Power, as we've been busy preparing our year-end list for Wednesday.

Looking back, 2023 has been an excellent year for new releases! We are more than excited to share our selections for the best of this year with you. In the meantime, last week's edition of Out Of Circulation is available via our archive.

Enjoy the start of your week... Catch you Wednesday!