As most good things do, dream pop first evolved in the '80s in the UK. The likes of the Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine spearheaded the movement away from rock 'n' roll by taking cues from shoegaze and crossing over to a more ethereal pop. Experimenting with white noise and guitars did the trick to create this shimmering success of a genre.
Today, dream pop had been redefined, managing to stay atop the indie stratosphere thanks to notables Beach House, Washed Out and Warpaint.
On your first listen, you'll likely pass it off as the idyllic study music. I was young and stupid once, too. But after seeing Beach House live last week, I realized I couldn’t be more wrong. Between Victoria Legrand's mesmerizing vocals and out–of–body abilities, Alex Scally's encapsulating guitar riffs and stunning visuals to set the scene, dream pop took on a livelier, fuller form.
Dream pop is more than a soundtrack to your mind–numbing days spent in VP. The combination of airy vocals, synths and ambient guitars makes for a full–body experience. It engages all your senses and brings out emotions you didn’t even know you had in you. I swear– I tasted 'Beyond Love', and it tasted like cotton candy. Delicious, I know.
The texture and lush layers of dream pop emerge more and more with each listen, so there's one way to test your patience. Listen through to get levitating—Beach House knows you want to.
Photo by Shawn Brackbill
