No. And the evidence against Moose being the first is pretty straightforward. Even discounting early MBV, Glider EP came out in April of ‘90, and MBV had been around for a while before that.
But if we really want to get into it, then we’ll talk about the actual precursors: Pale Saints, loop, Jesus and Mary Chain, A.R. Kane… and of course, let’s not forget how Lush smashed into the scene along with these other bands. Moose were there too, but many of the other bands I named pre-date Moose by years.
What about The Chameleons from the 1980s? I know they're generally thought of as Post Punk, but they're the first band I can think of that have a dual, heavily-effected guitar sound with hyper-romantic lyrics and vocals. They must have at least been an influence. A strike against them would be the drumming and tempo--more upbeat than shoegaze generally.
For anyone who's never heard The Chameleons, check out the tune "Second Skin." Heavily-effected guitars and lots of reverb on the guitars and vocals:
[https://youtu.be/ldLk0rQORHY?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/ldLk0rQORHY?feature=shared)
"The Chameleons at Camden Place" live performance is a decent introduction to the band:
[https://youtu.be/aMATNKCxTwc?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/aMATNKCxTwc?feature=shared)
Although I'd start with the album: "Script of the Bridge."
"Don't Fall" is such a great opening track:
[https://youtu.be/tLR3Q47-gMg?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/tLR3Q47-gMg?feature=shared)
The transition from post-punk to many genres is this weird invisible demarcation. The Chameleons are definitely part of the bands who had influence over the first wave of “recognized” shoegaze bands. It’s always a slippery slope.
I personally think that Spacemen 3 deserve more credit than they are given, but I do understand the space-rock / psychedelic vs shoegaze argument, I just disagree with the blanket categorization. Recurring might be one of the best shoegaze albums of all time that isn’t regarded as shoegaze.
I came up in a couple of scenes in the early 90’s. Both shoegaze and industrial. And both have these undeniable links to post-punk movements and incredibly blurred lines of where one genre ends and the new one starts. I’ve just accepted it and liked the music I like and use the genre tags to help find music online and in record shops. LOL
I love Moose too but they were not the first band. allegedly it was the band that a music critic saw them play live with their heads looking constantly down to their pedals and he coined the word shoegaze.
Yes, I've heard that story as well and don't doubt it. But I'm wondering which band had the first sonic characteristics that define shoegaze. My first exposure to shoegaze, or maybe it's best called dream pop, was Kitchens of Distinction's album Strange Free World--one of my favorites. It had that heavily effected wall-of-noise guitar sound and hyper-romantic lyrics. Think that was released in 1991. But I wouldn't say it was the first.
I love strange free world. love is hell is great too.
in general "upside down" by JAMC is considered the first shoegaze track but the evolution of shoegaze has its origins in the first three releases of MBV in Creation Records (you made me realise, feed me with your kiss, isn't anything)
The Velvet Underground also had some very proto shoegaze/ noise raga tracks they played live as part of Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable - before the first VU album was released. These tracks were included as a bonus on the 45th anniversary deluxe release of the first album.
ok I'm on the computer now.
just listen to Jennifer and Krautrock from Faust. both were released in 1973 (Faust IV). it was an era of experimentation back then which led to a lot of contemporary music and genres.
and yes. everything the americans and british did, the germans did it better.
semi joking on this one.
No. And the evidence against Moose being the first is pretty straightforward. Even discounting early MBV, Glider EP came out in April of ‘90, and MBV had been around for a while before that. But if we really want to get into it, then we’ll talk about the actual precursors: Pale Saints, loop, Jesus and Mary Chain, A.R. Kane… and of course, let’s not forget how Lush smashed into the scene along with these other bands. Moose were there too, but many of the other bands I named pre-date Moose by years.
Early Cocteau Twins music joins the discussion…
\*Hell\* yeah. :D
also Hüsker Dü dabbled in the shoegaze sound in the mid 80’s
There is a sort of argument for the Velvet Underground being first.
What about The Chameleons from the 1980s? I know they're generally thought of as Post Punk, but they're the first band I can think of that have a dual, heavily-effected guitar sound with hyper-romantic lyrics and vocals. They must have at least been an influence. A strike against them would be the drumming and tempo--more upbeat than shoegaze generally. For anyone who's never heard The Chameleons, check out the tune "Second Skin." Heavily-effected guitars and lots of reverb on the guitars and vocals: [https://youtu.be/ldLk0rQORHY?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/ldLk0rQORHY?feature=shared) "The Chameleons at Camden Place" live performance is a decent introduction to the band: [https://youtu.be/aMATNKCxTwc?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/aMATNKCxTwc?feature=shared) Although I'd start with the album: "Script of the Bridge." "Don't Fall" is such a great opening track: [https://youtu.be/tLR3Q47-gMg?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/tLR3Q47-gMg?feature=shared)
The transition from post-punk to many genres is this weird invisible demarcation. The Chameleons are definitely part of the bands who had influence over the first wave of “recognized” shoegaze bands. It’s always a slippery slope. I personally think that Spacemen 3 deserve more credit than they are given, but I do understand the space-rock / psychedelic vs shoegaze argument, I just disagree with the blanket categorization. Recurring might be one of the best shoegaze albums of all time that isn’t regarded as shoegaze. I came up in a couple of scenes in the early 90’s. Both shoegaze and industrial. And both have these undeniable links to post-punk movements and incredibly blurred lines of where one genre ends and the new one starts. I’ve just accepted it and liked the music I like and use the genre tags to help find music online and in record shops. LOL
Nicely put. Well done.
Proto shoegaze
I love Moose too but they were not the first band. allegedly it was the band that a music critic saw them play live with their heads looking constantly down to their pedals and he coined the word shoegaze.
Yes, I've heard that story as well and don't doubt it. But I'm wondering which band had the first sonic characteristics that define shoegaze. My first exposure to shoegaze, or maybe it's best called dream pop, was Kitchens of Distinction's album Strange Free World--one of my favorites. It had that heavily effected wall-of-noise guitar sound and hyper-romantic lyrics. Think that was released in 1991. But I wouldn't say it was the first.
I love strange free world. love is hell is great too. in general "upside down" by JAMC is considered the first shoegaze track but the evolution of shoegaze has its origins in the first three releases of MBV in Creation Records (you made me realise, feed me with your kiss, isn't anything)
I'm thinking Here Come the Warm Jets (from 1974) by Brian Eno was the first shoegaze track. it even has that MBV glide guitar style.
That's like proto shoegaze. The sound that anticipated shoegaze. There are a couple of songs with that character.
The Velvet Underground also had some very proto shoegaze/ noise raga tracks they played live as part of Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable - before the first VU album was released. These tracks were included as a bonus on the 45th anniversary deluxe release of the first album.
ok I'm on the computer now. just listen to Jennifer and Krautrock from Faust. both were released in 1973 (Faust IV). it was an era of experimentation back then which led to a lot of contemporary music and genres. and yes. everything the americans and british did, the germans did it better. semi joking on this one.
I think the term shoegaze was first used in a review of a Moose gig in Sounds Magazine in 1990 or 91.
Don’t forget 14 Iced Bears.