WHAT IS DREAM POP?
When the melancholic post-punk had already gained its momentum, and the optimistic ethereal had not yet found all of its listeners, a new style of alternative rock appeared – dream pop.
What is Dream Pop Beach House
It happened in the early 80s in Europe. Dream Pop was distinguished by its airiness and created a mysterious medieval atmosphere. It is believed that the founders of the style was the group Cocteau Twins. The guys from Scotland created a unique sound. The vocalist of the group Elizabeth Fraser had a unique, what is called “unearthly” voice – and in combination with the dynamic-atmospheric guitar accompaniment of Robin Guthrie and Will Heggie, the performance of Cocteau Twins defined a new stage in the history of music.
A distinctive feature of dream-pop is the use of folk medieval motifs and motifs of the Renaissance. In combination with them, the musicians fantastically use synth timbres, which, in turn, create an atmosphere of mystery and mystery, hidden in the depths of time. Last but not least, there were symphonic, acoustic melodies in combination with choral timbres. For example, the previously mentioned Cocteau Twins group “propagated” female vocals into polyphonic polyphony.
Despite all its sophistication, the usual “pop” motifs were also present in the sound of dream-pop. From pop they took gentle rhythms and dance tunes.
Cocteau Twins can also be called the founders of ethereal. Like the British rock band The Cure and their colleagues, This Mortal Coil. The classic representatives are such groups as the Pale Saints, The Ocean Blue, The Spoonfed Hybrid, The Sundays, The Belly, The Dream Academy, The Cannon, The Spirea X, The Hum, The Frazier Chorus, The Kitchens of Distinction, The Church.
John Lennon, with his dreamy, breathy, vocals, created songs that can be safely attributed to proto-dream-pop due to their atmospheric and ringing melodies. For example, “Sunday Morning” and “# 9 Dream”.
Guitar dream pop motifs also found followers in the USA. For example, Mazzy Star was distinguished by its stinging style – they skillfully combined blues, folk and psychedelic sound of a guitar. Their colleagues, Low, on the contrary, created minimalist arrangements and preferred a slow tempo of compositions.
More pops and even the aggressive direction of shugez became a direct continuation of dream-pop – it combined the energy of post-punk with the dream-pop atmospheric sound. The difference was that the new branch was assertive and had more energy. The British group Slowdive and the Irish team My Bloody Valentine are prominent representatives of shoegaze.
Dream-pop also influenced such styles as post-rock, slokor, trip-hop. These styles abandoned the usual drive and sharpness of classical rock music in favor of aerial and dreamy motives of dream-pop.
Dream Pop itself continued its development in the nineties and early zero. Some characterize this style as a new gaze. At this time, such groups as M83, Mercury Rev, Dubstar, Amusement Parks on Fire, Laika, Asobi Seksu, Readymade, Bethany Curve, Halou, Mew, Windy & Carl, Auburn Lull, Trespassers William, Sigur Rós, Southpacific, Mira, Yume Bitsu, Devics, Xinlisupreme, Blonde Redhead, Psychic Ills, Air Formation, Broken Social Scene, Charlene.
The latest bright representatives of dream pop can be called the American team Beach House. Singer Victoria Legrand, with her mysterious vocals, sang to the dull notes that were usual for this style. And guitarist Alex Scally contrasted the rhythms of the guitar and synthesizer. The band was formed in 2004, and in 2015 they released their latest album “Depression Cherry”.
