BEST OF
DARK
SHOEGAZE & DREAMPOP
2023

The fourth album from Fawns of Love, a California-based dream pop duo formed by vocalist Jenny Andreotti and multi-instrumentalist Joseph Andreotti.

Defined by a sweet, crystalline sound that glimmers like amber candy, the album leans fully into lush romanticism. It also includes a special arranged version by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, adding an extra layer of pedigree and allure.

The third album from Mexican dream pop/shoegaze band Mint Field.

Blending dream pop with trip-hop in a deft and mellow fashion, the album carries a richness reminiscent of fully ripened fruit. The use of Spanish vocals adds an extra layer of exotic atmosphere, further deepening its appeal.

This is the second album from Mirror Of Haze, the solo project of Norway-based Vadym Markov. Markov has cited strong influences from 1980s goth and post-punk acts such as The Cure, The Chameleons, and Fields of the Nephilim, as well as 1990s shoegaze and dream pop bands like Slowdive. On the debut album “The End Is the Beginning,” he presented a minimalist post-punk sound centered on dreamy guitar textures. Two years later, this new release marks a decisive shift toward a full-fledged shoegaze approach.

The aurora-like guitar work that defines Mirror Of Haze not only gains additional weight and shimmer here, but appears to push beyond the stratosphere altogether, radiating a beauty that feels as if it could reach the heart of the galaxy. Adding further depth and color to the album are four guest vocalists—Anne Marie, Kim Bell (Broken Nails), Iris Capricorn, and Dani Mari (Primitive Heart)—all artists rooted in the gothic tradition. One particularly striking detail is that Iris Capricorn turns out to be “Dame Pandora,” the vocalist of the French darkwave / neoclassical band Dark Sanctuary, active since 1996. The unexpected connection between a gothic institution and a shoegaze-oriented project suggests a quiet but meaningful cross-pollination between scenes.

Among the tracks, the standout is track #4, “Here’s Where We Belong,” a twin-vocal wall-of-sound shoegaze piece featuring Iris Capricorn’s enigmatic voice. The song unfolds with a cinematic sense of scale, evoking images of two figures left alone aboard an interstellar migration ship, drifting through the void before finally arriving at a blue, unknown planet. It is a deeply dramatic moment that encapsulates the album’s balance between overwhelming volume and otherworldly beauty.

Second album from Death of Heather, a shoegaze / dream pop band based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Expanding on their debut, the band sharpens their identity with a heavier, more melancholic sound, resulting in a truly standout release.

Their long-awaited performances in Japan showcased an immaculate live sound, offering a sublime experience—like traveling into the core of a galaxy where stars spiral endlessly.

The debut album from Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Gísli Gunnarsson.

Centered on post-classical compositions imbued with a sense of sacred radiance, the record’s appeal lies in the contrast created by the occasional injection of heavier material. This tendency becomes more pronounced in the latter half of the album.

The highlight is “Stream of Life” which features Mario Infantes of fellow Icelandic progressive metal band Cult of Lilith and stands out as a moment of exceptional beauty. Here, a violent, blast-beat-driven sound envelops Infantes’ smooth, lustrous tenor, transforming into a torrent of dazzling light that carries the listener’s soul toward the divine.

With a recent collaboration alongside Alcest already under his belt, Gunnarsson is clearly an artist to watch.

The debut EP from London-based UK dream pop duo deary.

Rooted in the ethereal wave lineage closely associated with the 4AD sound of the 1990s and early 2000s, the EP delivers a form of dream pop defined by hazy elegance and delicate beauty. This influence is most vividly realized on “Beauty in All Blue Satin” which stands out as the release’s finest moment.

The third album from Oslo-based Norwegian post-metal band Leonov.

A strain of pitch-black doomgaze steeped in a suffocatingly ritualistic atmosphere, the record trembles with a darkness reminiscent of a black magic ceremony conducted deep within an underground crypt. Its oppressive weight and occult aura linger long after the sound fades.

Now the only question is: when will we finally see a shared bill with Presence of Soul?

The debut EP from Forest of Ember Skies, the solo project of Carline Van Roos, widely known in the dark music scene as the vocalist of Lethian Dreams and Remembrance.

Drawing from the ethereal folk sensibilities of her other project Aythis, the EP seamlessly connects these elements with blackgaze. It unfolds like a beautiful flower blooming deep within an untouched forest—hidden, remote, and quietly radiant.

The third EP from CD Ghost, a dream pop duo based in Los Angeles and consisting of Cody Han and Blake Dimas.

A sweetly intoxicating cocktail where the shadowy decadence of darkwave and post-punk melts into the romanticism of synthwave and dream pop. While the darkness has softened compared to their previous release, the increased sweetness proves just as satisfying.

The second album from House of Harm, a darkwave/post-punk band based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Darkwave and post-punk adorned with shimmering guitars and synths has always been a winning formula, and House of Harm execute it with particular finesse. What truly sets the band apart is the strength of their melodic hooks, giving their songs an appeal that reaches beyond dream pop and shoegaze to potentially resonate even with fans of visual kei.

Now we wait to see when HANDS AND MOMENT will bring them to Japan.