Editing Slowdive (section)

===1989–1991: Formation and early EPs===
Slowdive were formed in [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], England, by [[Neil Halstead]] and [[Rachel Goswell]] in October 1989. The two sang and played guitar, and had been friends since they were 6 years old. At a Sunday youth group, they began making music in an [[indie pop]] band called the Pumpkin Fairies, with bassist Mike Cottle and drummer Adrian Sell. When the Pumpkin Fairies disbanded, Slowdive formed, also including drummer Adrian Sell and Sell's friend, bassist Nick Chaplin. A third guitarist named Christian Savill, previously of the band Eternal, joined when he became the only person to answer an advert from the band. The ad called for a female guitarist, but Savill wanted to join so badly he offered to wear a dress. He was subsequently recruited.<ref name = "WATSON_2A">Watson (2005a), p. 2</ref> The name "Slowdive" was inspired by a dream Chaplin experienced,<ref>{{cite web |last=Strutt |url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/7344/Slowdive-Interview |publisher=Pennyblackmusic.co.uk |title=Slowdive interview |date=24 February 2014 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722122452/http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/7344/Slowdive-Interview |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> and a conversation he had with Goswell, who mentioned "[[Slowdive (song)|Slowdive]]", the name of a single by one of her favourite bands, [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Eisenhardt |first=Asa |url=http://whenthesunhitsblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/wtsh-interviews-neil-halstead-simon.html |title=WTSH interviews with Neil Halstead and Simon Scoot of Slowdive |publisher=When the sun hits |date=1 August 2014 |access-date=1 July 2015 |quote=I just remember we were coming into rehearsal and sorting out [band] names, and [Nick] saying 'I had a dream that Slowburn was the name.' And Rachel was like, 'Well, how about Slowdive?' She was a big Siouxsie and the Banshees fan. I didn’t know Siouxsie at the time, but I just thought the name fit, and I ended up writing the song 'Slowdive' around that name we’d just [come up with] |archive-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102105857/http://whenthesunhitsblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/wtsh-interviews-neil-halstead-simon.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Goswell later said that she was outvoted for the choice of the name in the end.<ref>{{cite podcast |url=https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9VZ1lyT19MQw== |title=Rachel Goswell Pt. 1: The Solitary and The Sociable| publisher=Curious Creatures |host=[[Lol Tolhurst]] & [[Budgie (musician)|Budgie]] | time=29:20 |date=2022-12-11 |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>

The band quickly recorded a [[Demo (music)|demo]] and several months later played a show with the band [[Five Thirty]]. Steve Walters, head of [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] at [[EMI]], attended the show. Afterward, he approached Savill and requested one of their demos. Slowdive signed a [[recording contract]] with [[Creation Records]] shortly after. The average age of the band was 19 at the time.<ref name = "BUCKLEY_ROCK">{{cite book | title = The Rough Guide To Rock | author = Buckley, Peter | publisher = [[Rough Guides]] | edition = 3rd | date = November 2003 | page = [https://archive.org/details/roughguidetorock0003unse/page/956 956] | isbn = 1-84353-105-4 | url = https://archive.org/details/roughguidetorock0003unse/page/956 }}</ref> Sell felt things were progressing too fast and left for university after being in the band for about six months.<ref name = "WATSON_2A"/><ref name = "NME_BIO">{{cite magazine | url = http://www.nme.com/artists/slowdive | title = Slowdive biography | author =  | magazine = [[NME]] | access-date = 2009-08-22}}</ref>

A [[Slowdive (EP)|self-titled EP]] was released in November 1990 and received praise from music critics.<ref name = "BUCKLEY_ROCK"/> ''Slowdive'' was actually their original demo; the band had preferred the older recordings after feeling disillusioned with their studio craft.<ref name = "WATSON_4A">Watson (2005a), p. 4</ref> In a glowing recommendation, ''[[NME]]'' staff member Simon Williams wrote "Slowdive have banished the barrier restricting creativity... When they really relax, Slowdive can make [[Cocteau Twins]] sound like [[Mudhoney]]". ''[[Melody Maker]]'' awarded the EP its "Single of the Week" award, an accolade the band's next two EPs received.<ref name = "WATSON_4A"/>

Drummer Neil Carter joined from fellow Reading band the Colour Mary in time to play on the ''Morningrise'' EP,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenementtv.com/news/slowdive-celebrate-25th-anniversary-with-live-version-of-avalyn/|title=Slowdive celebrate 25th anniversary with live version of 'Avalyn'|website=Tenement TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/slowdive-mn0000030431/biography|title=Slowdive - Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> but left prior to its release in February 1991.<ref name = "ALLMUSIC_MORNING">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r350636|pure_url=yes}} | title = ''Morningrise'' review | author = Kellman, Andy | website = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = 2009-08-22}}</ref> Simon Scott took over on drums after his previous group, an alternative rock band called [[the Charlottes]], broke up.<ref name = "ALLMUSIC_CHARLOTTES">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p199366|pure_url=yes}} | title = The Charlottes biography | author = Kellman, Andy | website = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = 2009-08-22}}</ref> The ''Holding Our Breath'' EP followed in June 1991,<ref name = "ALLMUSIC_BREATH"/> reaching No. 52 in the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref name = "NME_BIO"/> while the single "Catch the Breeze" topped the [[UK Independent Singles and Albums Charts|UK Indie Chart]].<ref name = "ALLMUSIC_BREATH">{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r465314|pure_url=yes}} | title = ''Holding Our Breath'' review | author = Kellman, Andy | website = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = 2009-08-22}}</ref>