Shoegaze - historical background, famous records, changes in equipment, and 10 recommended tracks -
Text: mmr｜Theme: From the origins of Shoegaze to the present
Shoegaze is a music genre that developed in the late 1980s, mainly in the United Kingdom, and is characterized by thunderous guitars, deep reverb and delay effects, and an introspective vocal style.The name comes from the word ``gaze,’’ which means to gaze at one’s shoes, and is said to come from the way the player plays with his head down while concentrating on operating the effects.
Below, we will look back at the history of Shoegaze by decade, and introduce the changes in representative masterpieces and equipment used.
1980s — Origin
Historical background
- While following the trends of post-punk and new wave, a new approach was being sought to fuse guitar noise and pop melodies.
- Indie labels such as Creation Records are leading the scene.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Guitar: Fender Jazzmaster, Jaguar
- Effector: Big Muff, Boss DD-3 Delay, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man
- Amp: Vox AC30, Fender Twin Reverb
Recommended 10 songs (1980s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| You Made Me Realise |
My Bloody Valentine |
Fusion of noise and sweet melody |
| Soon |
My Bloody Valentine |
A masterpiece that defined the future image of shoegaze |
| Lorelei |
Cocteau Twins |
Pioneer of dreamy textures |
| Just Like Honey |
The Jesus and Mary Chain |
The prototype of sweet melody and roar |
| Primitive Painters |
Felt |
A fusion of British indie and aesthetic |
| Vapour Trail |
Ride |
Majestic strings and roar |
| Taste |
Ride |
Iconic numbers from early rides |
| Deeper Than Holy |
Lush |
The origin of female vocals and roar |
| Nothing Much to Lose |
The House of Love |
Beautiful Melody and Feedback |
| Upside Down |
The Jesus and Mary Chain |
Noise pop monument |
1990s — golden age
Historical background
- My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless (1991) marks the pinnacle of the genre.
- Ride, Slowdive, Lush and others released masterpieces one after another.
- Although it temporarily declined with the rise of Britpop, it was highly praised by later generations.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Guitar: Fender Jazzmaster, Gibson Les Paul
- Effector: Digitech Whammy, Yamaha SPX90, Boss CE-2 Chorus
- Recording technology: Building a “wall of sound” through layered multi-recording
Recommended 10 songs (1990s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| Only Shallow |
My Bloody Valentine |
Roaring pop that defined the genre |
| When the Sun Hits |
Slowdive |
A symbol of a beautiful floating feeling |
| Alison |
Slowdive |
A fleeting and transparent famous ballad |
| Vapour Trail |
Ride |
String instrument arrangement and dream feeling |
| Leave Them All Behind |
Ride |
A masterpiece with progressive rock developments |
| De-Luxe |
Lush |
Light and vivid guitar noise |
| Desire Lines |
Lush |
Deep soundscape |
| Blindfold |
Curve |
A pioneer that incorporates electro elements |
| Cherry-Coloured Funk |
Cocteau Twins |
Intersection with Dream Pop |
| Sometimes |
My Bloody Valentine |
Songs that get to the heart of shoegaze |
2000s — Revival period
Historical background
- Fusion with post-rock bands such as Mogwai and Sigur Rós.
- A new generation of Shoegaze revival is progressing mainly in America.
- With the spread of internet culture, re-evaluation is accelerating.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Digital Reverb/Delay (Line6 DL4)
- Soft synths and DAW (Pro Tools, Logic)
- Guitar: Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster also increased
Recommended 10 songs (2000s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
|
| Run Into Flowers |
M83 |
Fusion of dreams and roar |
|
| America |
Asobi Seksu |
An encounter between Japanese lyricism and shoegaze |
|
| Thursday |
Asobi Seksu |
Beautiful melody and explosive roar |
|
| Nothing Ever Happened |
Deerhunter |
The Magic of Noise and Repetition |
|
| Heatherwood |
M83 |
Profound Ambience |
|
| Dreams Burn Down (Live) |
Ride |
Iconic performance from the revival period |
|
| Goodbye |
Ulrich Schnauss |
Representative of electro shoegaze |
|
| When I’m Small |
Phantogram |
Intersection of electro and dream |
|
| Another Space Song |
Failure |
Fusion of US-style alternative and roar |
|
| Sometimes |
Always |
JAMC & Hope Sandoval |
The line between noise and pop |
2010s — Neo Shoegaze
Historical background
- Discovered by the internet generation and gained new support.
- New generation bands such as DIIV and Nothing are emerging.
- Fusion with Dreampop and Chillwave.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Diversification of effectors (Strymon, EarthQuaker Devices)
- Improving mix accuracy with DAW
- Vintage equipment re-evaluation (Jazzmaster, Big Muff)
Recommended 10 songs (2010s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| How Long Have You Known |
DIIV |
Standard bearer of neo-shoegaze |
| Doused |
DIIV |
Rushing feeling and deep reverb |
| Bent Nail |
Nothing |
Heavy wall of sound |
| Vertigo |
Beach Fossils |
Fusion of indie and dream |
| Imagine Hearts |
Ringo Deathstarr |
Coexistence of explosion and sweetness |
| Leave You Forever |
Ringo Deathstarr |
Roaring sound full of live feeling |
| Anxiety’s Door |
Merchandise |
Mix of Punk and Gaze |
| Lovebuzz (Cover) |
Tame Impala |
Intersection of Psych and Gaze |
| Blue Light |
Wild Nothing |
Ambient dreamscape |
| Ceremony (Live) |
DIIV |
Fusion of shoegaze and post-punk |
2020s — now
Historical background
- Re-evaluation is accelerating worldwide.
- It is also popular among the younger generation due to its spread through festivals and streaming.
- Shoegaze techniques are also linked to K-POP and the reappraisal of Japanese city pop.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Software effects (more and more plug-ins)
- Popularization of home recording/distribution environment
- Hybrid operation of vintage equipment and latest technology
Recommended 10 songs (2020s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| Famine Asylum |
Nothing |
Modern and profound roar |
| Catch The Breeze (Rework) |
Slowdive |
Symbol of the new Slowdive |
| Kisses |
Slowdive |
Transparent melodic beauty |
| Say Less |
Nothing |
Dark and overwhelming wall of sound |
| Don’t Fade |
Ringo Deathstarr |
Refreshed Roaring Beauty |
| Dreaming the Dark |
Tamaryn |
Modern Dream Gaze |
| For the Guilty |
Blankenberge |
New generation from Russia |
| Aphasia |
Holy Fawn |
Blackgaze Expansion |
| Desires |
DIIV |
Deepening of Neo-Gaze |
| Shimmer |
Whirr |
Heavy and deep sound |
Swaying between a roaring sound and a beautiful melody
Shoegaze sprouted in the late 1980s, reached its golden age in the 1990s, and although it once declined, it has been revived since the 2000s.From the 2010s to the present, its musicality has continued to be loved all over the world, even as it has diversified and subdivided.This genre, which oscillates between roaring sounds and beautiful melodies, continues to have a strong influence on today’s digital generation.
