Playlist: Slowdive pick 10 essential shoegaze albums
Shoegaze is a genre steadily becoming more and more popular. With its move towards the mainstream, an increased number of people are becoming vested in what it is, what separates it from other genres, and what albums they should be listening to. If you fall into that category and are willing to dip your toes into the sonic oblivion put forward by the unrelenting shoegaze style, fear not; Slowdive is here to help.
Shoegaze is famed for being one of the first subgenres to come from indie rock. While the fundamental elements of what makes an indie band are present in shoegaze outfits, their music combines sounds in a way that is unlike any other music to come before. Rather than having separate musical parts brought on by guitar, drums, bass and vocals, all instruments merge in a way that forms an impenetrable wall of sound.
Shoegaze bands use warm waves of distortion, a limitless texture on their guitars and ethereal and reverbed vocals to make music that is almost dreamlike in its execution. It was created as the antithesis of big arena rock, which seems ironic now, given so many shoegaze bands can fill arenas. The idea was to obscure vocals and sounds so that they blended better, creating an incredibly layered sound that almost picks the listener up and scoops them away.
The amount of DIY artists who champion shoegaze as a genre equally supports other shoegaze bands. They celebrate themselves massively, which is why it’s such an accessible genre. It isn’t one laden with gatekeepers, and if you go up to anybody who is into this style of music and ask them for some recommendations, all you need is something to make notes on and plenty of time to listen to everything.
Several modern bands make excellent shoegaze music. These include the likes of bdrmm, Whitelands and Hotline TNT; however, one of the biggest shoegaze bands making waves at the moment is Slowdive. They can construct inexplicable sounds, building them up and knocking them down quickly to create a unique listening experience.
Their drummer has recently put together a comprehensive playlist of what he believes to be ten essential albums that fans of the genre, new and old, should have on their radar. Given his knowledge of the genre and subsequent commitment to playing it, despite the subjectivity of music, this is a good playlist that you should immerse yourself in.
Making an appearance includes legendary bands such as Sonic Youth, The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, all of whom are considered shoegaze legends in their own right. These albums are excellent examples of how shoegaze bands can layer sound and incorporate naturally occurring music and more harsh textures like noise to create something truly unique. Anyway, that’s enough talking, happy listening!
10 essential shoegaze albums from Slowdive:
- Cocteau Twins – Treasure
- The Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy
- Loop – Heaven’s End
- A.R. Kane – 69
- My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything
- Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
- Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire
- Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
- My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
- Flying Saucer Attack – Further
