What it is, what to hear first, and what sits next to it.
Dream pop, also written as dreampop, is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture alongside pop melodies. It is characterized by features such as breathy vocals, dense production, and the use of effects like reverb, echo, tremolo, and chorus. The genre often overlaps with shoegaze, and the two terms have sometimes been used interchangeably. Dream pop gained prominence in the 1980s through artists associated with the UK label 4AD, including Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, and A. .