DJ Agge

People are talking about a shoegazing revival now when Scotish band Glasvegas is everywhere and the release of M83’s Saturdays = Youth earlier this year, an album which holds some even more serious shoegazing moments like the My Bloody Valentine infused singles “Kim & Jessie” and “Graveyard Girl”.

I love that sort of stuff. You see, I’m a shoegazer. Nowadays my addiction rarely gets awakened, but I know I’ll always be a shoegazer. So everytime there’s a new band popping up with influences from those glorious days of the late 80s and early 90s I’m back with my ears deep down Mr Alan McGee’s catalogue from this day and era. Alan McGee is the founder of Creation Records, which, as one of the the best pop labels during the last 20 years of the 20th century brought bands like Oasis, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub and The Jesus & Mary Chain to the world. I love all those bands, but to me Creation is a lot about alarming guitars, reverbed vocals and flashing lights. Everything done while taking a stare at your own shoes. Creation was THE shoegazing label and here are some of my picks from those years (as it happens, Alan McGee was the man who also discovered Glasvegas in 2006). This is by no means anything that represents neither the label Creation nor the shoegazing era in any complete way (would love to do that post though, ha ha), just a bunch of songs I like:

My Bloody Valentine – Only Shallow (1991)

Well, I had to start out with this track, it’s the #1 shoegazing band and the first song off the #1 album of the genre, Loveless. The album took two years to record and the label almost went bankrupt from having to pay for all those studio sessions. It was worth the wait.

Ride – Drive Blind (1990)

My favourite band of the time. Even if Kevin Shields of MBV was the genius of the genre, Andy Bell of Ride was the guy everyone wanted to be. This one is from the EP Smile.

Swervedriver – Never Lose That Feeling (1992)

Just an average band really, and the singer, Adam Franklin, sported dreadlocks which made him look like he was a basist in The Levellers, but they made some really good songs, like on their first album, Raise. This one is from the EP with the same name as the song.

Slowdive – When The Sun Hits (1994)

Slowdive was definitely one of those bands that competed for shoegazer stardom. Some claimed they were better than Ride, but they weren’t. However, this song is soooo good, as a matter of fact, the whole album, Souvlaki, is quality.

The Boo Radleys – Does This Hurt? (1992)

People forget this band came out with a first album stacked with shoegazing sounds. This song is beautiful.

Adorable – Homeboy (1992)

When I was 16 we had a one day festival in school were the kids could perform. Me and my friends Christian (the guy singing here), Andreas and Thomas did “Crash Sight” by Adorable. I sang and Christian’s dad shot the whole thing, Nisse: put that stuff up on Youtube so I can see it, I need a laugh!