Having exhausted all the possibilities of the shoegaze aesthetic that defined their band Slowdive, British singer/guitarist Neil Halstead and singer Rachel Goswell changed gears in 1994 and formed Mojave 3, a rootsier acoustic outfit. The newly inspired pair (augmented by a drummer and bassist) released their debut album to indie acclaim in 1996 on the esteemed 4AD label. From the mid-'90s onward, the group continued to develop and deconstruct their sound--exploring country, folk, and sparsely melodic pop--the subtle sheen of which is no less compelling than the more dramatic fare of their previous incarnation.