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Dream Pop

 Dream Pop
type
FeatureClass
 Dream Pop
label
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop
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DreamPop
 Dream Pop
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Primary Stylistic Influences:
Post-Punk, Alternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Ambient


Secondary Stylistic Influences:
occasionally Electronic Music, World Music, Folk Music and Country Music

Dream Pop. It sounds really lovely; you can fall asleep to it.
Dream Pop is a specific subgenre of Alternative Rock that emerged in the middle of The '80s, and is commonly associated with the label 4AD Records. As befitting its name, dream pop lies in the middle between Ambient music and pop: It borrows the emphasis on ethereal soundscapes typical of the former and applies it to the catchy melodies of the latter. Theoretically this gives it the best of both worlds, since it avoids both ambient's excessive monotony or inscrutability and pop's shallower tendencies. In troper terms, it's basically the musical equivalent of Scenery Porn.
While the genre itself appeared in The '80s, the Velvet Underground song "Sunday Morning" has been cited as basically the Ur-Example of the genre, once again supporting the old joke that people who buy Velvet Underground albums will start their own bands.
Dream pop's indie status means that its bands don't have access to incredibly advanced equipment or funds in their quest for sonic beauty. Typical characteristics of the genre include heavily processed guitars and synthesizers, breathy, high-pitched generally female vocals - the occasional male vocals show up but they tend to be just as breathy - and heavy use of reverb and echo to give the songs a sort of celestial atmosphere. Basically, you can think of dream pop as the musical equivalent of Scenery Porn with a tendency to Perishing Alt-Rock Voice. Dream pop vocalists tend to use their voice more like an instrument, and thus lyrics tend to be hard to understand and mixed low. Thanks to its association with 4AD, the genre even had its own distinctive visual identity thanks to Vaughan Oliver and v23's work for that label: Minimalistic Cover Art designs employing very blurry imagery and occasional use of Deliberately Monochrome.
Generally, if someone says "dream pop", they're most likely thinking of bands in The '80s on the 4AD label, such as Cocteau Twins, Dif Juz and the genre's own Supergroup, This Mortal Coil. These bands represent dream pop's "classic sound" - all instruments and voices soaked in reverb, breathy vocals, introspective themes and creating a wall of sound out of generally sparse instrumentation note even the more arrangement-heavy dream pop bands like the Cocteaus stuck to the standard guitar-bass-drums-keyboards lineup; only This Mortal Coil really used string sections, and even they stuck to minimal arrangements instead of overproduction, adding up to something that, all snarkery aside, is really quite beautiful. Most dream pop bands varied in terms of emotion between somber and depressing, terrifying and optimistic. Still, not every band on 4AD was dream pop (The Pixies, The Breeders, Colourbox and Throwing Muses were on the label) and not every dream pop band was on 4AD (Cranes, The Passions, Bel Canto, Galaxie 500 and The Dream Academy among many others were on other labels). While dream pop was intially a pretty unified genre, variations on the basic "ethereal soundscapes + pop melodies" formula soon appeared, in particular bands that focused more on guitars than synths. Pretty soon, the genre started splintering into a ton of other subgenres as well: Low went into slowcore, Mazzy Star smashed together Dream Pop, Shoegazing and Psychedelic Rock, Love Spirals Downwards went into electronica, and so on.
Dream pop was an important influence on the emergence of Shoegazing, and starting with The '90s the two genres began cross-breeding and eventually became indistinguishable. You're not likely to find many Dream Pop bands that use the "classic sound" of the Cocteaus or This Mortal Coil anymore, although there are a few new bands, such as Beach House, that continue the "traditional" dream pop sound. There aren't many of these, but they're pretty popular amongst indie kids. Instead, there's a ton of bands that are somewhere between dream pop and shoegazing, most likely thrown under the umbrella term "post-rock" - a good example of this would be Sigur Rós.
David Lynch likes this genre, as seen through his production work with Julee Cruise and his use of This Mortal Coil's awesome cover of "Song to the Siren" in Lost Highway.
The polar opposite of this genre is Drone Metal, which is Nightmare Fuel in music form. Not to be confused with Ethereal Wave, a Lighter and Softer subgenre of Goth Rock.
 Dream Pop
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2024-04-05T03:37:38Z
 Dream Pop
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2024-04-05T03:37:38Z
 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
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 Dream Pop
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Dream Pop / int_16101808
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_16101808
comment
Ethel Cain
 Dream Pop / int_16101808
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_16101808
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ethel Cain (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_16101808
 Dream Pop / int_22182a91
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_22182a91
comment
Grouper (mixed with ambient and folk)
 Dream Pop / int_22182a91
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_22182a91
featureConfidence
1.0
 Grouper (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_22182a91
 Dream Pop / int_2352c110
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_2352c110
comment
Belly
 Dream Pop / int_2352c110
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_2352c110
featureConfidence
1.0
 Belly (Band) (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_2352c110
 Dream Pop / int_28170434
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_28170434
comment
Vaadat Charigim
 Dream Pop / int_28170434
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_28170434
featureConfidence
1.0
 Vaadat Charigim (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_28170434
 Dream Pop / int_28b0d347
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_28b0d347
comment
Hooverphonic (mixed with Trip Hop and Alternative Rock)
 Dream Pop / int_28b0d347
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_28b0d347
featureConfidence
1.0
 Hooverphonic (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_28b0d347
 Dream Pop / int_2c6cecb0
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_2c6cecb0
comment
Visions
 Dream Pop / int_2c6cecb0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_2c6cecb0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Visions (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_2c6cecb0
 Dream Pop / int_3386ee26
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_3386ee26
comment
The Dandy Warhols (with a little Noise Rock thrown in, occasionally)
 Dream Pop / int_3386ee26
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_3386ee26
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Dandy Warhols (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_3386ee26
 Dream Pop / int_33999544
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_33999544
comment
Delerium (also Alternative Dance)
 Dream Pop / int_33999544
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_33999544
featureConfidence
1.0
 Delerium (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_33999544
 Dream Pop / int_3425fbd0
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_3425fbd0
comment
Tendon Levey (deranged avant-pop with elements of funk and dream pop)
 Dream Pop / int_3425fbd0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_3425fbd0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tendon Levey (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_3425fbd0
 Dream Pop / int_365bca8c
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_365bca8c
comment
Lower Dens
 Dream Pop / int_365bca8c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_365bca8c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lower Dens (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_365bca8c
 Dream Pop / int_4e7c9933
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_4e7c9933
comment
Wolf Alice
 Dream Pop / int_4e7c9933
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_4e7c9933
featureConfidence
1.0
 Wolf Alice (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_4e7c9933
 Dream Pop / int_4e7e6013
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_4e7e6013
comment
†††
 Dream Pop / int_4e7e6013
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_4e7e6013
featureConfidence
1.0
 ††† (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_4e7e6013
 Dream Pop / int_593556b3
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_593556b3
comment
Soccer Mommy
2020 - Color Theory
2022 - Sometimes Forever
 Dream Pop / int_593556b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_593556b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Soccer Mommy (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_593556b3
 Dream Pop / int_6763acac
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_6763acac
comment
2011 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
 Dream Pop / int_6763acac
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_6763acac
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1.0
 Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_6763acac
 Dream Pop / int_73125701
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_73125701
comment
His Name Is Alive (though they engage in frequent Genre Roulette, this is the most frequent label applied to them)
 Dream Pop / int_73125701
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_73125701
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1.0
 His Name Is Alive (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_73125701
 Dream Pop / int_7929e979
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_7929e979
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A.R. Kane (the band who originally coined the term to describe themselves, though their sound also went into Alternative Dance and a a whole lot of other stuff)
 Dream Pop / int_7929e979
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_7929e979
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1.0
 A.R. Kane (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_7929e979
 Dream Pop / int_8298ce4e
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_8298ce4e
comment
Faunts
 Dream Pop / int_8298ce4e
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_8298ce4e
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1.0
 Faunts (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_8298ce4e
 Dream Pop / int_89e005b3
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_89e005b3
comment
Nicole Dollanganger
 Dream Pop / int_89e005b3
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_89e005b3
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1.0
 Nicole Dollanganger (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_89e005b3
 Dream Pop / int_9cfbaa5d
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_9cfbaa5d
comment
The Chameleons
 Dream Pop / int_9cfbaa5d
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_9cfbaa5d
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1.0
 The Chameleons (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_9cfbaa5d
 Dream Pop / int_9dd7c2cd
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_9dd7c2cd
comment
2020 - Color Theory
 Dream Pop / int_9dd7c2cd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_9dd7c2cd
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1.0
 Color Theory (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_9dd7c2cd
 Dream Pop / int_9fc720f
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_9fc720f
comment
Japanese Breakfast
2016 - Psychopomp
2017 - Soft Sounds from Another Planet
2021 - Jubilee
 Dream Pop / int_9fc720f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_9fc720f
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1.0
 Japanese Breakfast (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_9fc720f
 Dream Pop / int_a08c8c37
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_a08c8c37
comment
Pale Saints
 Dream Pop / int_a08c8c37
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_a08c8c37
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1.0
 Pale Saints (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_a08c8c37
 Dream Pop / int_a3e83135
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_a3e83135
comment
Chairlift
 Dream Pop / int_a3e83135
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_a3e83135
featureConfidence
1.0
 Chairlift (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_a3e83135
 Dream Pop / int_aa66e528
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_aa66e528
comment
2017 - Soft Sounds from Another Planet
 Dream Pop / int_aa66e528
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_aa66e528
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1.0
 Soft Sounds From Another Planet (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_aa66e528
 Dream Pop / int_b6147582
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_b6147582
comment
Felt
 Dream Pop / int_b6147582
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_b6147582
featureConfidence
1.0
 Felt (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_b6147582
 Dream Pop / int_b617d4e6
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_b617d4e6
comment
MS MR
 Dream Pop / int_b617d4e6
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_b617d4e6
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1.0
 MS MR (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_b617d4e6
 Dream Pop / int_bf602732
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_bf602732
comment
The Church (Band)
 Dream Pop / int_bf602732
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_bf602732
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Church (Band) (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_bf602732
 Dream Pop / int_c45165f
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_c45165f
comment
1991 - Blood
 Dream Pop / int_c45165f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_c45165f
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1.0
 Blood (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_c45165f
 Dream Pop / int_c467e14
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_c467e14
comment
Boris (On Attention Please only)
 Dream Pop / int_c467e14
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_c467e14
featureConfidence
1.0
 Boris
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_c467e14
 Dream Pop / int_c8795c3e
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_c8795c3e
comment
Freelance Whales
 Dream Pop / int_c8795c3e
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_c8795c3e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Freelance Whales (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_c8795c3e
 Dream Pop / int_cb37b51a
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_cb37b51a
comment
Sweet Trip (combined with shoegazing, Glitch and ambient techno)
 Dream Pop / int_cb37b51a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_cb37b51a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Sweet Trip (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_cb37b51a
 Dream Pop / int_d40c396
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_d40c396
comment
The xx are fairly modern, but unmistakably dreamy, breathy, and beautiful.
 Dream Pop / int_d40c396
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_d40c396
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1.0
 The xx (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_d40c396
 Dream Pop / int_d4dbcb0
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_d4dbcb0
comment
2022 - Sometimes Forever
 Dream Pop / int_d4dbcb0
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_d4dbcb0
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1.0
 Sometimes Forever (Music)
hasFeature
Dream Pop / int_d4dbcb0
 Dream Pop / int_d56a09c4
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_d56a09c4
comment
Air (also Ambient and Electronic Music)
 Dream Pop / int_d56a09c4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_d56a09c4
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1.0
 Air (Band) (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_d56a09c4
 Dream Pop / int_d81b328f
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_d81b328f
comment
2006 - Fur and Gold
 Dream Pop / int_d81b328f
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_d81b328f
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1.0
 Fur and Gold (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_d81b328f
 Dream Pop / int_d861a87
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_d861a87
comment
Yeule
 Dream Pop / int_d861a87
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_d861a87
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1.0
 Yeule (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_d861a87
 Dream Pop / int_e30261d5
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_e30261d5
comment
girl in red (also Indie Pop)
 Dream Pop / int_e30261d5
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_e30261d5
featureConfidence
1.0
 girl in red (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_e30261d5
 Dream Pop / int_e30eaa2c
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_e30eaa2c
comment
Fishmans (Started off as Dub)
 Dream Pop / int_e30eaa2c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_e30eaa2c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fishmans (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_e30eaa2c
 Dream Pop / int_e9d6ab1
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_e9d6ab1
comment
2016 - Psychopomp
 Dream Pop / int_e9d6ab1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_e9d6ab1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Psychopomp (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_e9d6ab1
 Dream Pop / int_f387e9c
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_f387e9c
comment
2021 - Jubilee
 Dream Pop / int_f387e9c
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1.0
 Dream Pop / int_f387e9c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jubilee (2021) (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_f387e9c
 Dream Pop / int_f4967ea6
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop / int_f4967ea6
comment
Broadcast (mixed with Psychedelia and Electronic Music)
 Dream Pop / int_f4967ea6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Dream Pop / int_f4967ea6
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1.0
 Broadcast (Music)
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Dream Pop / int_f4967ea6

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Dream Pop
processingCategory2
Music Tropes
 Sen
seeAlso
Dream Pop
 Belly (Band) (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 Bring Me the Horizon (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 Deerhunter Band (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 Dream Pop (Music)
seeAlso
Dream Pop
 Filter (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 Freelance Whales (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 Galaxie 500 (Music)
seeAlso
Dream Pop
 Japanese Breakfast (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 Love Spirals Downwards (Music)
seeAlso
Dream Pop
 Sometimes Forever (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 The xx (Music) / int_affd2c33
type
Dream Pop
 VernianProcess
seeAlso
Dream Pop