The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 1031: A history of dream pop

November 22, 2024 Alan Cross 0 Comments

Music is always just downstream of what’s happening in popular culture. The early 80s were a volatile time for politics and society was shifting, too. The Cold War was dangerously close to turning hot with relations between the U.S. and the USSR in a particularly bad spot. There was also an awful recession with interest rates pushing past 20%.

With all this going on, the early 80s were an interesting time for music. The CD was introduced, elevating the quality of recorded audio, and encouraging people to up their technical game on a bunch of different levels. And MTV went on the air, so music videos were a new thing.

Even though the original punk rock era had burned itself out, it left behind a spirit of adventure. The post-punk era was filled with experimentation that resulted in all sorts of new sounds.

A lot of these new sounds were facilitated by new technology, especially in the realm of electronics. Not only were synthesizers getting more powerful and cheaper, but there were drum machines, samplers, more sophisticated multi-track recorders, and new outboard effects that could be employed in both the studio and onstage.

So in some respects, music got more complicated simply because it could. We are always going to have artists that will push the envelope in some fashion.

This is where we encounter a post-punk genre called dream pop. It’s a thing unto itself but it’s also related to other genres where atmosphere, sonic textures, and (in some cases) sheer volume reign supreme. And from its origins in the early 80s, dream pop has had a profound effect on music that is felt even today.

Here: Let me show you.

Songs heard on this show:

Velvet Underground, Venus in Furs
George Harrison, Let It Down
Bauhaus, Bela Lugosi’s Dead
Cocteau Twins, Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops
This Mortal Coil, Song to the Siren
AR Kane, When You’re Sad
MARRS, Pump Up the Volume
Julee Cruise, Calling
Galaxie 500, Fourth of July
My Bloody Valentine, Feed Me With Your Kiss
Sigur Ros, Svefn-g-Englar

A playlist from Eric Wilhite? Of course!

The Ongoing History Music can be heard on these stations. Don’t forget that there’s a podcast version, too, in case you miss any episodes. Get them for free wherever you get your podcasts.