Shoegaze and Dream Pop Music Thread 🎸

[Larethio]

Disintegration is good.


Unfortunately, I think the emergence of the Britpop phenomenon pretty much killed off the shoegaze/dream-pop scene in the UK, which became decidedly un-cool (if it ever was "cool"). Undoubtedly there will have been bands trying to keep it alive, but what I have heard didn't feel quite as inspiring as the late 80's/early 90's bands that came before it. Much more introvert, slower, downbeat, and just simply fewer creative arrangements. Hence I stopped looking for it.

It wasn't until a couple of years ago or so that I discovered the recent J-Rock scene, and found much of the dream-pop/ethereal and uplifting side of the shoegaze genre to be very much alive there, so I have been on a new shoegaze/dream-pop binge, as well as al the J-Rock that falls in the middle ground between indie-rock and shoegaze/dream-pop. J-Rock (especially their alt-rock scene) has given me a whole new appreciation of new rock music. But I can understand that Japanese music is a bit of a bridge too far for some.

Beachside talks - Take Me Down/Freedom


Hammer Head Shark / echo ( Music Video )


羊文学 - 光るとき (Official Music Video) 【テレビアニメ「平家物語」OPテーマ】

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I always found it odd that some people would describe Shoegaze as uncool lol. The walls of sound prevalent in shoegazing music is very "psychedelic" and makes me feel im floating in outer space a lot of times lol. Same goes with Pink Floyd and some Radiohead. Perhaps people got tired of not being able to hear the lyrics? I'm "only" 27 but I'd love to have been there in the UK early 90s where bands like Lush and MBV knew and supported each other.

Yeah, my favorite albums from The Cure are Faith and Disintegration. Primary, Pictures of You and Closedown are three of my most played tracks from those two albums.

From the 90s, Wish is a good album, aside from the bubblegum pop track, Friday I’m in Love”. Skip that song and it’s a good listen. A Letter to Elise is another of my favorite all time songs. Beautiful music, amazing guitar playing, and beautiful lyrics.

For current music that sounds like the 80s-90s alternative, I love The Horrors, Cut Copy and Miami Horror. The latter can get pretty poppy, but the music is so fun. Also, check out the song, “Controller” by Hercules and Love Affair. Sounds a lot like Depeche Mode! Freaking love it!

Good to see another Horrors fan. I didn't care for the switch The Horrors made from Neo-Psychadelia/Shoegaze to Industrial . I think Luminous was their peak. Though I can understand getting tired of making one type of music for too long.

 

[genefruit]

so much dream pop, it's hard to limit my post.

This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, His Name is Alive - just to name some of the 4AD big names

titles that don't get enough credit - Ask Me Tomorrow by Mojave 3, Gentle Creatures by Tarnation, The Blue Moods of Spain by Spain, Long Season by Fishmans

newer releases in the spirit of dream pop - Cellophane Memories and This Train by Chrysta Bell & David Lynch, Classic Objects by Jenny Hval, most everything by Beach House, Sigur Ros, and Low

Looking forward to reading more recommendations

 

[2leftears]

I always found it odd that some people would describe Shoegaze as uncool lol. The walls of sounds are very "psychedelic" and makes me feel im floating in outer space a lot of times lol.

Yes, I never understood either why it was considered uncool.

I'm "only" 27 but I'd love to have been there in the UK early 90s where bands like Lush and MBV knew and supported each other.

It was a great time; the back-end of what could still be considered genuine "indie" and "alternative" rock before the big labels started to commercialise even that sound.
Then came brit-pop and after that music became very monotonous and boring (to my ears) when hip hop and drum & bass started to leave its footprint everywhere from rock to pop, culminating into grime (which I really don't get on with).

Fortunately there is now a new generation of artists who realise that rap-style vocals can also be set to interesting music

so much dream pop, it's hard to limit my post.

This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, His Name is Alive - just to name some of the 4AD big names

titles that don't get enough credit - Ask Me Tomorrow by Mojave 3, Gentle Creatures by Tarnation, The Blue Moods of Spain by Spain, Long Season by Fishmans

newer releases in the spirit of dream pop - Cellophane Memories and This Train by Chrysta Bell & David Lynch, Classic Objects by Jenny Hval, most everything by Beach House, Sigur Ros, and Low

Looking forward to reading more recommendations

This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Mojave 3, Tarnation; not sure I would place them in Shoegaze/Dream-Pop exactly, but who's arguing; they are all great!

There are one or two artists you mentioned there that I am not familiar with; will check them out.

 

[genefruit]

Yes, I never understood either why it was considered uncool.


It was a great time; the back-end of what could still be considered genuine "indie" and "alternative" rock before the big labels started to commercialise even that sound.
Then came brit-pop and after that music became very monotonous and boring (to my ears) when hip hop and drum & bass started to leave its footprint everywhere from rock to pop, culminating into grime (which I really don't get on with).

Fortunately there is now a new generation of artists who realise that rap-style vocals can also be set to interesting music


This Mortal Coil, Dead Can Dance, Mojave 3, Tarnation; not sure I would place them in Shoegaze/Dream-Pop exactly, but who's arguing; they are all great!

There are one or two artists you mentioned there that I am not familiar with; will check them out.

I see shoegaze and Dream-pop as two distinct genres, typically separated by distortion

 

[Larethio]

I see shoegaze and Dream-pop as two distinct genres, typically separated by distortion

I've seen it this way also. Dream Pop having lighter distortion and walls of noise in general and more sense of space in the recordings.

There is some definite overlap in alot of it though

 

[2leftears]

I see shoegaze and Dream-pop as two distinct genres, typically separated by distortion

Indeed, those familiar with shoegaze and dream-pop know there is a difference, but unfortunately so many have been using the terminology interchangeably (incl. Wikipedia, which addresses the point that there is a difference, but then itself starts conflating shoegaze and dream-pop bands) that I have fallen in line with just calling it shoegaze/dream-pop myself.

It is a difficult and to many a confusing line to draw I think, because both genres feature the origin of the 'shoegaze' moniker, which is a battery of effect pedals that the guitarist(s) are staring at.

But yes, dream-pop is usually lighter on the guitar distortion, has more reverb and echo, can have more ethereal vocals, and can get "poppier" (for lack of a better terminology).

EDIT: what also doesn't help is that some of the bands that are generally considered typical examples of the "shoegaze" genre, are actually more "dream-pop" in their sound.

 

[Larethio]

There's a band from Russia called Life on Venus that has a sound id describe as "cold" sound and would suit snowy or grey overcast days. Similar to Slowdive imo



And from London is a band called The Cheatahs whose music gives off a sunnier and more optimistic vibe. Their members came from different parts of the world. If someone toldl me they come from California I wouldn't doubt it a bit based on the sound alone

 

[genefruit]

There's a band from Russia called Life on Venus that has a sound id describe as "cold" sound and would suit snowy or grey overcast days. Similar to Slowdive imo

Digging this album

 

[Larethio]

Digging this album

They make very somber yet soothing music. Found them on Bandcamp. It's a really great site for finding lesser known bands.

Has anyone heard of the Engineers? Very nice blend of Dream Pop and Space Rock. They're Influenced by Spiritualized, Cocteau Twins and Pink Floyd.

This song my favorite of theirs. It really gives off a cosmic atmosphere.

 

[G8torbyte]

Looking through my library I have a few of the more well known Shoegaze bands like Lush, Mazzy Star and Slowdive.
I purchased a lot of alternative music in the 1990's and early 2000's that have some shoegazey-type tracks even if they are not really known for that genre.

 

[Larethio]

Looking through my library I have a few of the more well known Shoegaze bands like Lush, Mazzy Star and Slowdive.
I purchased a lot of alternative music in the 1990's and early 2000's that have some shoegazey-type tracks even if they are not really known for that genre.

Travis is good post-britpop. Similar atmosphere to the "happier" songs of Coldplay's Parachutes era.

 

[2leftears]

Pale Saints were good:



And early Hitsujibungaku have a lovey sound:

 

[taffy2207]

Glazyhaze

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[2leftears]

Soundwave Studio channel (YT) posted the entire release party live concert for Blurred City Light's Utopia and Dystopia EP pair/album (see below).

Maybe not for everyone, but honestly, anyone who likes the combination of shoegaze, dream-pop, post-rock, EMO and ambient ought to check out this band at least once.
Feels of Lush, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, Pale Saints, The Cure, Brian Eno, Florian Fricke, Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Blurred City Light 2nd album 『Utopia / Dystopia』release party @ TOKIO TOKYO - 08.03.25
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