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Dream pop is a type of alternative rock that originated in Britain in the early 1980s, when bands like Cocteau Twins, The Chameleons, The Passions, Dead Can Dance, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane (to whom the term has been attributed) began fusing post-punk experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into sensual, sonically-ambitious soundscapes. The term was only used in the United States, although frequently used, and allegedly coined, by Melody Maker journalists Simon Reynolds and Chris Roberts. An "all-star" dream pop collective named This Mortal Coil were known for covering obscure pop songs of the 1960s to '80s.

The essence of the music is a focus on ethereal textures and moods, rather than on propulsive rock riffs. Breathy, high-register female vocals (and androgynous male vocals) are the preferred means of lyrical delivery; lyrics are generally introspective and existential in nature. Cover art tends to consist of blurry pastel imagery and/or stark minimalist designs. Overall, the 4AD record label is the one most associated with dream pop, though others such as Creation, Projekt, Fontana, Bedazzled, Vernon Yard, and Slumberland also released significant records in the genre.

In the late 1980s to early 1990s, bands such as Slowdive, Lush, Pale Saints, early-period Seefeel, early-period Verve, Kitchens of Distinction, The Sundays, Galaxie 500, Bel Canto, Cranes, Frazier Chorus, late-period Talk Talk, Strange Boutique, Curve, The Dream Academy, and No-Man were representatives of the genre.

Concurrently, a number of more predominantly guitar-driven dream pop bands emerged in the United States, including For Against, Alison's Halo, Low, Mazzy Star, Velour 100, Love Spirals Downwards, and Duster.

A louder, more aggressive strain of dream pop came to be known as shoegazing; key bands of this style were My Bloody Valentine, Catherine Wheel, Ride, Bailter Space, Flying Saucer Attack, Swervedriver, Bowery Electric, Band Of Susans, Eva Luna, and Levitation. These bands kept the atmospheric qualities of dream pop, but added the intensity of post-punk-influenced bands such as The Chameleons and Sonic Youth. Shoegazing arose out of a love for dream pop's textures and moods, at the same time rejecting its more passive tendencies.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, bands like 7% Solution, Sigur Rós, Laika, The FLIR, Readymade, Bethany Curve, Halou, Windy & Carl, All Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors, A Minute Away From Snowing, Trespassers William, Ariel Storm, Southpacific, Mira, Yume Bitsu, Devics, Xinlisupreme, Highspire, Psychic Ills and Auburn Lull have had the dream pop/ shoegazing labels attributed to them. Groups like these are sometimes (dismissively) called "new-gaze" or "nu-gaze" bands. The term "Ambient Pop" is applied as a genre to some of these artists as well. The Smashing Pumpkins' single "Rhinoceros" from the album Gish (1991) is considered to be a combination of psychedelia and dream pop.

Dream pop is often credited with providing the creative "anti-rock" catalyst for textural-based musical styles such as trip hop, slowcore and post-rock.

• List of dream pop artists
• Shoegazing

• All Music Guide entry on dream pop