8.5 out of 10
In the late nineties Bristol, England was the unofficial home of Shoegaze, hosting a cluster of genre-pioneers such as Flying Saucer Attack, Third Eye Foundation, Crescent, Movietone, and Amp. And though the nineties have long past, thanks to Kranky a forgotten gem from the golden age of Space-Rock has just been unearthed: Dreamscape.
Dreamscape weren't together long, and they didn't record much. The trio only released a 7” single (1990's “Blackflower” / “Evergreen”) and an EP (1992's Cradle), and ever since they've received little attention. However, with the release of Kranky's retrospective collection of the band's work, 'La-Di-Da Recordings', their music is finally getting the attention it deserves. The album's nine tracks recall the addictive Pop of early Shoegazers like Lush, but its emphasis on complex rhythms, latticework melodies, and idiosyncratic vocal stylings make this release anything but predictable. Listen to the driving bass lines of “Finally Through,” or the expressive pianos of “So Far From Belief,” and hear for yourself just how innovative this trio is.
If Dreamscape had not broken up, one cannot help but to wonder how popular they might be today. Could they have become Bristol's answer to Cocteau Twins? Very well so. But they didn't. All we have left from this forgotten band is forty-minutes of colorful, smart Pop – and somehow they don't leave me wanting any more. They just leave me pressing the repeat button.
Standout Tracks: Dreamsleep Eternal, So Far From Belief, Finally Through
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