JaME's Japanese Shoegaze Playlist

Music journalists love their genres. It takes all the work out of defining a band’s sound. Just pop them in the relevant box and job done.  Back in the early 90s a new sound emerged in the UK that almost defied description. In the end, the term Shoegaze was coined by the British music press to describe it, without actually describing the sound at all. The term, carrying a touch of typical British music journo snark, was actually inspired by the guitarists, heads down, concentrating on the effects pedals that produced the signature heavy distortion and layered effects of this innovative, ethereal wall of sound.

In truth, it was a parochial and short lived movement.  Dominated by British based bands it saw groups like Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine hit the peak of their popularity briefly before disappearing by the end of the 90s, elbowed aside as laddish Britpop took centre stage.  Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, My Bloody Valentine’s album Loveless turned out to be hugely influential in Japan and sparked a scene that kept the shoegaze flame burning even as it sputtered and died in its birthplace.