The self-titled debut album from
the Soft Cavalry (the duo of
Slowdive's
Rachel Goswell and her husband,
Steve Clarke) is a testament to the power of love. Prior to meeting
Goswell on
Slowdive's 2014 reunion tour,
Clarke had played in several bands and worked as a tour manager for many others, but never felt confident enough to share his own music with the world. On
The Soft Cavalry's songs, he and
Goswell (as well as keyboardist
Jesse Chandler, guitarist Tom Livermore, drummer
Stuart Wilkinson, and
Clarke's brother
Michael, who produced the album) trace his journey from doubt and loneliness to creativity and happiness. Though
the Soft Cavalry is a collaboration,
Clarke's voice dominates the album. While
Goswell fans might be disappointed she doesn't take a more central role, her presence is everywhere on
The Soft Cavalry. She's most prominent on "Passerby," an airy yet haunting song that's a showcase for her ever-gorgeous vocals and a tribute to just how much she inspires
Clarke. As the album unfolds, it becomes even clearer that
the Soft Cavalry isn't just an extension of
Slowdive. Along with his relationship with
Goswell,
Clarke draws from his years of artistic and emotional paralysis, and many of
The Soft Cavalry's songs are portraits of someone at a crossroads.
Clarke and
Goswell set these stories to introspective melodies and widescreen arrangements -- a classic dream pop approach that they put their own stamp on with "Dive," where the song's haze builds to a steep climax as
Clarke summons the courage to take a leap of faith. Elsewhere, the
xx-like drum machines and serpentine guitars of "Bulletproof" and the sunny jangle of "Never Be Without You" -- which calls to mind
Grandaddy or
Goswell's post-
Slowdive project,
Mojave 3 -- can do more than the expected shoegaze and dream pop.
The Soft Cavalry's moods are just as complex. Some of the most striking, and relatable, moments occur when
Clarke lets uncertainty creep into his songs: the way his doubt ratchets up the tension on the cinematic ballad "Spiders" makes it a standout, and the stakes are nearly as high on "The Light That Shines on Everyone" and "Only in Dreams," a spacious, Laurel Canyon-esque track with plenty of room for
Clarke's confessions to flow. At times, his contemplation gets a little too meandering, and some songs fall on the wrong side of the fine line between anthemic and clichéd. Nevertheless,
The Soft Cavalry is a promising debut that's held together by the emotional commitment
Clarke and
Goswell bring to each of its songs.