Various - Cherry Stars Collide: Dream Pop, Shoegaze and Ethereal Rock 1986-1995

by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 20 / 3 / 2023

Various - Cherry Stars Collide: Dream Pop, Shoegaze and Ethereal Rock 1986-1995

Label: Cherry Red Records
Format: CD Box

Follow-up of sorts to 2016’s ‘Still in a Dream’ shoegaze compilation, which goes on to compile songs from the dream pop, shoegaze and ethereal rock movements

Review

If asked what they define as ‘dream pop’, I think most people (well, at least those with a rather big interest in music) would mention bands like Cocteau Twins, Lush and That Mortal Coil, all associated with the iconic 4AD label. Back in 2016, Cherry Red released the lauded compilation ‘Still in a Dream’, which compiled music from the shoegaze movement, and this new 4CD box set can be seen as a continuation of that compilation, even though the compilers expand the definition of the three genres mentioned in the title. Sure, Cocteau Twins are here, with ‘Iceblink Luck’, taken from their 1990 album ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’. So are This Mortal Coil, Lush and Ultra Vivid Scene. But we are also treated to bands that (at least for me) aren’t directly associated with these scenes, like St Etienne and Dubstar, to name but a few, and I’m still not really sure what they’re doing here. As you might expect, a compilation like this isn’t jampacked with hit songs, and the most well-known song here, by far, is probably the dreamy theme from ‘Twin Peaks’, ‘Falling’, performed by Julee Cruise (who sadly passed away last year). And speaking of broadening the dream pop and shoegaze palette – that’s probably the nicest surprise for me when listening to this box set, to hear bands that I haven’t really thought of us part of this scene, but now it seems very natural. An example of this is Talk Talk’s ‘Eden’, taken from their 1988 album ‘Spirit of Eden’, when Mark Hollis had decided to leave their synthesizer-based sounds behind, and instead explored the world of slow, moody songs, something he would explore even further on their final album, ‘Laughing Stock’, in 1991, and on his sole solo album in 1998. All in all, this is a great compilation, and a nice introduction to the world of shoegaze and dream pop, even though I would probably recommend the beginner to devour the ‘Still in a Dream’ compilation first, and then continue their moody journey to this new box set after being converted.

Track Listing:-

1 AR KANE – LOLLITA
2 FRAZIER CHORUS – SLOPPY HEART
3 AREA – WITH LOUISE
4 LOUIS PHILLIPE – WHEN I’M AN ASTRONAUT
5 THE CHAMELEONS – I’LL REMEMBER
6 DEAD CAN DANCE – IN THE KINGDOM OF THE BLIND THE ONE-EYED ARE KINGS
7 14 ICED BEARS – HAY FEVER
8 TALK TALK – EDEN (EDIT)
9 SHELLEYAN ORPHAN – TAR BABY
10 ULTRA VIVID SCENE – A DREAM OF LOVE
11 THIS MORTAL COIL – DRUGS
12 DAVID SYLVIAN – POP SONG
13 JULEE CRUISE – FALLING (TWIN PEAKS THEME)
14 COCTEAU TWINS – ICEBLINK LUCK
15 ETERNAL – SLEEP
16 THE DREAM ACADEMY – LOVE
17 LUSH – BREEZE (GALA VERSION)
18 THE WAKE – ENGLISH RAIN
19 BLOW-UP – HEAVEN TONIGHT
20 HIS NAME IS ALIVE – AS WE COULD EVER
21 PENELOPE’S WEB – LOWSUN
22 CRANES – TOMORROW’S TEARS
23 THE HEART THROBS – KISS ME WHEN I’M STARVING
24 BREATHLESS – OVER AND OVER
25 KITCHENS OF DISTINCTION – HYPNOGOGIC
26 THE INNOCENCE MISSION – EVENSONG
27 THE TELESCOPES – CELESTE
28 SECRET SHINE – GREY SKIES
29 THE CHARLOTTES – PRAYER SONG
30 SPIREA X – SIGNED D.C.
31 THE CRANBERRIES – THEM
32 DROP – WITHIN AND BEYOND
33 SPIRITUALIZED – FEEL SO SAD GLIDES AND CHIMES
34 THE OCEAN BLUE – BALLERINA OUT OF CONTROL
35 LYCIA – IONIA
36 CHAPTERHOUSE – MESMERISE
37 THE SWEETEST ACHE – IF I COULD SHINE
38 LEVITATION – ROSEMARY JONES (COPPELIA VERSION)
39 FOR AGAINST TODAY TODAY
40 RED HOUSE PAINTERS – JAPANESE TO ENGLISH
41 SMASHING ORANGE – STRANGE YOUNG GIRLS
42 ALL ABOUT EVE – SOME FINER DAY
43 THE DARLING BUDS – ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
44 SWEET JESUS – YOUR BABY LOVES ME (ORIGINAL VERSION)
45 THE SUNDAYS – GOD MADE ME
46 LOVE SPIRALS DOWNWARDS – STIR ABOUT THE STARS
47 ALISON’S HALO – SUNSHY
48 INSIDES – YES
49 MAZZY STAR – SHE’S MY BABY
50 BEL CANTO – UNICORN + 15 Others