Song Stories: The Verve: Slide Away
Most people know The Verve for their 1997 magnum opus 'Urban Hymns' and it's orchestral epic 'Bittersweet Symphony' or acoustic ballads 'The Drug's Don't Work' or 'Lucky Man'. However the band were known for a rather different sound when they first emerged in 1993.
Released as a part of 'A Storm in Heaven' in 1993 'Slide Away' captured The Verve at their hypnotic and expansive best. A sound that blended swirling psychedelic textures with raw emotion. The song stands as an early example of the band’s ability to fuse spacey atmospherics with Richard Ashcroft’s impassioned lyricism.
In the early '90s, The Verve were forging their identity in the UK alternative scene, experimenting with ethereal guitar sounds and epic song structures. “Slide Away” was one of the standout moments of their debut album, a song born from the band's intense jam sessions and an innate chemistry between Ashcroft and guitarist Nick McCabe. The track evolved out of free-flowing improvisation, with McCabe’s delay-soaked guitar lines weaving around Ashcroft’s yearning vocals.
“Slide Away” is a song of escape, longing, and transcendence. Ashcroft’s lyrics speak to the desire to break free from constraints, whether emotional or physical, and drift into something greater. Lines like “So take your time and drift away” reflect a dreamy, almost spiritual surrender to the unknown. While the song isn't tied to a specific personal event, it encapsulates the restless energy of youth, the search for meaning, and the fleeting nature of experience.
Produced by John Leckie (known for his work with The Stone Roses and Radiohead), A Storm in Heaven was a melting pot of reverb-drenched guitars, distant vocals, and organic, almost improvisational energy. “Slide Away” was recorded in the legendary Sawmills Studio in Cornwall, where the remote location contributed to the album’s trippy, otherworldly feel. McCabe’s shimmering guitar work stands out as a highlight, creating a vast, immersive soundscape that lifts the song into the stratosphere.
Though 'A Storm in Heaven' didn’t achieve massive commercial success upon release, it has since been recognized as a defining moment in The Verve’s evolution. “Slide Away” remains a fan favorite, embodying the band’s early, unfiltered essence before their later, more polished sound took shape. The album has become a cult classic, particularly among fans of psychedelic rock and shoegaze, and is often cited as one of the most underrated records of the decade. It laid the groundwork for The Verve’s future, proving their ambition and musical depth while establishing their reputation for crafting immersive, transcendent soundscapes. Unlike 'Urban Hymns', which embraced a more accessible, song-driven approach, 'A Storm in Heaven' feels like an experience, an odyssey into the unknown, where the lines between structure and improvisation blur into something otherworldly.
'Urban Hymns' was a stark departure. Despite its brilliance, it was a safer record—designed for mass appeal, with sweeping ballads and radio-friendly anthems that propelled The Verve to worldwide fame. By contrast, 'A Storm in Heaven' captured a raw, untamed energy, a fearless approach to songwriting that felt almost spiritual in its execution. Tracks like “Slide Away,” “Blue,” “The Sun, The Sea,” “Gravity Grave,” and “She’s a Superstar” weren’t just songs—they were sonic landscapes, vast and immersive, filled with swirling guitar textures, hypnotic rhythms, and Ashcroft’s cryptic, impassioned lyricism. At their peak, The Verve were creating some of the most unique and forward-thinking music of the 1990s