Ethereal Wave · GenresWhat is ethereal wave?
Ethereal wave is a musical genre closely related to gothic rock and the darkwave movement, pioneered by Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil and early Dead Can Dance. The music is characterized by atmospheric guitar soundscapes and distant vocals that create a surreal and otherworldly effect.
About ethereal wave
Sound effects like chorus, echo, and delay are also often used, especially in tandem with much reverb. Many ethereal wave artists heavily influenced the dream pop and shoegaze genres.
From Last.fm, where 963 listeners have tagged music as ethereal wave.
Artists to start with
Albums to hear first
It'll End in Tears (remastered)
Floating Into the Night
Adorn
Victorialand
Once Twice Melody
The Burning Circle And Then Dust
Riverine
The Spangle MakerEthereal Wave songs
- Pandora (For Cindy) by Cocteau Twins
- Somewhere Tonight by Beach House
- Lost by Autumn's Grey Solace
- She's So Lovely by Beach House
- Heaven or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
- Stereo Boy by FKA twigs
- Forgotten, Fossilized, Archaic by Autumn's Grey Solace
- Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires by Cocteau Twins
- idea 1 by Kelela
- Chariot by Beach House
Ethereal Wave on Risocast
Heaven or Las VegasCocteau Twins · 1990
The Moon and the MelodiesCocteau Twins, Harold Budd · 1986
The Moon and the MelodiesCocteau TwinsThe Moon and the Melodies (2024 Remaster)Cocteau Twins, Harold Budd · 1986
Milk & Kisses (2024 Remaster)Cocteau Twins · 2024
Milk & KissesCocteau Twins
Blue Bell KnollCocteau Twins
Thank Your Lucky StarsBeach HouseSpace SongBeach House · 2015
- Sea, Swallow MeCocteau Twins
Sea, Swallow Me (2024 Remaster)Cocteau Twins
Neighbouring genres
In the dream pop & shoegaze family. All genres
noise popshoegazeslowcoreblackgazedream popdreampunkdreamwaveQuestions
- What is ethereal wave?
- Ethereal wave is a musical genre closely related to gothic rock and the darkwave movement, pioneered by Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil and early Dead Can Dance. The music is characterized by atmospheric guitar soundscapes and distant vocals that create a surreal and otherworldly effect. Sound effects like chorus, echo, and delay are also often used, especially in tandem with much reverb.
- Who are the best-known ethereal wave artists?
- By Last.fm listening: Ethel Cain, Saint Avangeline, SPELLLING, elusin, SRSQ and Darkher.
- What genres are similar to ethereal wave?
- On Risocast it sits with noise pop, shoegaze, slowcore, blackgaze, dream pop and dreampunk.
Risocast is free. Install it once and it logs everything you play.
Updated 7 October 2026
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Risocast HelpA music diary that writes itself, and a place to find people who love the music you love. Play music anywhere (Spotify, YouTube, your phone) and Risocast remembers every song. Each week it presses your listening onto a Weekly Disc you can share, and it introduces you to your taste twins: people whose music matches yours. Free, no ads, and it looks like Windows 98.
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Almost certainly. Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, Deezer, music in your browser and nearly any app on your Windows PC or Android phone are remembered on their own. A few desktop players (VLC, iTunes, MusicBee) need a free add-on first. You can also connect Spotify, or bring your history over from Last.fm.
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