Simon Rowe’s shoegaze and dreampop credentials are unassailable, having been guitarist in both Chapterhouse and Mojave 3, and while it’s been some time since his guitar has been heard from, he’s preparing his solo debut Everybody’s Thinking for release at the very break of the new year, January 4, 2023.

The official word on the record is as follows, including the impressive list of his former bandmates who’ve helped out on this record:

The poet Rumi once said “Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place”. A wonderful, bittersweet sentiment that radiates at the heart of this debut record by Simon Rowe, the ex-guitarist from 90’s legends Chapterhouse and Mojave 3.

Everybody’s Thinking is a personal journey of layered sounds but with a backbone of brevity and psychedelic simplicity. The influence of artists like Tim Hardin, Syd Barrett and Fred Neil emanate beautifully and the nine uncomplicated and honest songs shine with unashamed fragility.

Gathering past collaborators to help form a gentle and melodic selection of songs, this recording was grown over several years with help from all members of Chapterhouse Andrew Sheriff, Ashley Bates and Stephen Patman and drumming assistance from Ian McCutcheon (Mojave 3 / HOO), along with recording help from Neil Halstead (Slowdive / Mojave 3) and bass playing from Hamish Brown (Revolver). Mixed & assembled with Nick Holton (at his Oaki Room Studio) who like the others were so happy to participate in the making of this truly individual album made by an unsung & beautiful soul of the shoegaze era. Rowe navigated for 10 years a slow mighty river to discover for us an accessible psychedelic classic.

The first sample certainly hews to the folkier side of things – no leftover Chapterhouse riffs here – but the shimmering electric guitar lines are certainly familiar to those of us who wore out our copies of Out Of Tune.