Shoegaze has become a buzzword in the last decade or so, describing any music with a swirling, surreal, glimmering sound. Starting as a predominantly U.K.based movement that later migrated to the U.S. between the late ‘80s and early‘90s, shoegaze was a term used to describe a musical fixation with the effects pedals and a despondent, detached style of performance. At its core, though, shoegaze is a genre that melds noise and ethereal elements, condensing them into melodic pop music. Songs typically involve dense, heavily layered guitar work that builds up into a wall of a dissonant feedback. Add some additional droning instrumentation and a wave of melancholic vocals that make you want to stare at your feet (or pedalboard), and you’ve got a great shoegaze track.
Those who detract from the genre can diminish it as just a bunch of noise. Plus, it can be hard to connect with performers who don’t make eye-contact with audience members. Still, shoegaze’s defining factor is its ability to blend together different textures of sound, vocals and instrumentation. For those listeners who may not typically like this kind of music, we’ve put together of list of shoegaze albums to help ease the exploration of such a stacked sound, including some seminal albums and a few contemporary ones that are easier to digest.
4. The Black Ryder, Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride
The Black Ryder is an Australian duo consisting of Aimee Nash and Scott Von Ryper that mastered the ability to intertwine the sounds of ‘80s British synthpop and electronic rock. The band’s debut takes a dark, sultry approach to shoegaze with sprawling layers of droning, blissed-out guitars and ethereal vocals, creating a kaleidoscopic sound. From its opening track, “To Never Know You,” the album brings new textures and contrasts them with layers of emotive and majestic guitar riffs that are accompanied by brooding lyrics. The songs swirl together in a way that’s intended to be listened to as one overwhelming ride. It’s a long and intimate one, at that.
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/10-shoegaze-albums-for-people-who-dont-like-shoega.html
