The Soft Cavalry in Bloomington, MN

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
'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
(as well as keyboardist
Jesse Chandler
, guitarist
Tom Livermore
, drummer
Stuart Wilkinson
, and
's brother
Michael
, who produced the album) trace his journey from doubt and loneliness to creativity and happiness. Though
is a collaboration,
's voice dominates the album. While
fans might be disappointed she doesn't take a more central role, her presence is everywhere on
. 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
. As the album unfolds, it becomes even clearer that
isn't just an extension of
. Along with his relationship with
,
draws from his years of artistic and emotional paralysis, and many of
's songs are portraits of someone at a crossroads.
and
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
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
's post-
project,
Mojave 3
-- can do more than the expected shoegaze and dream pop.
's moods are just as complex. Some of the most striking, and relatable, moments occur when
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
's confessions to flow. ~ Heather Phares