Dream Psych

tagStarted 1986Peak 1989-1997Last big hit still active

Located in 3 routes

Rock → Psychedelic / Acid / Space Rock Rock → Shoegaze / Dream Rock Alternative / Indie → Neo-Psychedelia / Psych Revival

Narcotic, slow-drifting psychedelia where hypnotic guitar drones, gauzy reverb, two-chord mantras and gospel-tinged grandeur blur into a waking dream. Less about freak-out, more about shimmer, repetition and blissed-out stillness. Minimal, meditative and immersive, it floats between the acid past and a softly glowing inner space.

History

Grew from Britain's late-80s underground when Spacemen 3 stripped psychedelia to drone and repetition, preaching 'taking drugs to make music to take drugs to.' Their split birthed Spiritualized; America's Brian Jonestown Massacre and Mercury Rev pushed parallel hazy strands. The sound shaped modern psych and the dreamier fringe of shoegaze.

Defining artists

Spacemen 3Spotify YouTube
SpiritualizedSpotify YouTube
The Brian Jonestown MassacreSpotify YouTube
Mercury RevSpotify YouTube
LoopSpotify YouTube
SpectrumSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Walkin' with Jesus — Spacemen 3Spotify YouTube
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space — SpiritualizedSpotify YouTube
Anemone — The Brian Jonestown MassacreSpotify YouTube
Revolution — Spacemen 3Spotify YouTube
Take a Look at the Future — SpectrumSpotify YouTube

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Sources

Wikipedia: Spacemen 3
The Quietus
AllMusic
Pitchfork