Ethereal Wave
Encyclopedia
Ethereal Wave, also called ethereal darkwave in Europe
and ethereal goth or simply ethereal in the US
, is a term that describes a subgenre of Dark Wave music. Developed in 1983/1984 as an outgrowth of gothic rock
, ethereal was mainly represented by bands such as Cocteau Twins
and early Dead Can Dance
.
Typical of this kind of music is the use of atmospheric guitar soundscapes, including sound effects like echo and delay. A second typical characteristic is the use of breathy male or high register female vocals – often with hard-to-decipher lyrical content – and a strong influence of ambient music
. The website "A Study of Gothic subculture" describes it as being "most characterized by soprano female vocals combined with [...] bass, lead guitar, and drums which creates a surreal, angelic or otherworldly effect e.g. Love Spirals Downwards, Cocteau Twins.[...] Sometimes, a male vocalist will also be in the group along with the female vocalist. Even more rarely will there be only a male vocalist, but it is still considered ethereal if the mood created is otherworldly and surreal. The background music can also be electronic or soundscape oriented. It is currently a small division of music, and people who like this music are often called Goths."
There are overlaps between Ethereal Wave, shoegazing
and dream pop
, with many artists being heavily influenced by 4AD
bands, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and This Mortal Coil
, as well as early All About Eve
and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The American Ethereal group Siddal for example described their music as follows: "A product of influences such as the Cocteau Twins, Low
, Slowdive
, The Cure
, and Dead Can Dance, use a blend of ambient music, shoegazer style guitars, synths and sequenced rhythms."
Ethereal is strongly associated with the Projekt label, which features some of the most well known names of the US scene. Other labels that feature some of the leading lights of the movement are Tess Records (This Ascension
, Autumn), Yvy Records (Faith & Disease
) and Middle Pillar (Aenima
).
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and ethereal goth or simply ethereal in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is a term that describes a subgenre of Dark Wave music. Developed in 1983/1984 as an outgrowth of gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, ethereal was mainly represented by bands such as Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
and early Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
.
Typical of this kind of music is the use of atmospheric guitar soundscapes, including sound effects like echo and delay. A second typical characteristic is the use of breathy male or high register female vocals – often with hard-to-decipher lyrical content – and a strong influence of ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
. The website "A Study of Gothic subculture" describes it as being "most characterized by soprano female vocals combined with [...] bass, lead guitar, and drums which creates a surreal, angelic or otherworldly effect e.g. Love Spirals Downwards, Cocteau Twins.[...] Sometimes, a male vocalist will also be in the group along with the female vocalist. Even more rarely will there be only a male vocalist, but it is still considered ethereal if the mood created is otherworldly and surreal. The background music can also be electronic or soundscape oriented. It is currently a small division of music, and people who like this music are often called Goths."
There are overlaps between Ethereal Wave, shoegazing
Shoegazing
Shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted there until the mid 1990s, with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991...
and dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
, with many artists being heavily influenced by 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
bands, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil
This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...
, as well as early All About Eve
All About Eve (band)
All About Eve were a British rock/pop band. The creative core consisted of the Coventry born Julianne Regan , and the Huddersfield born Andy Cousin , with other members changing over the years...
and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The American Ethereal group Siddal for example described their music as follows: "A product of influences such as the Cocteau Twins, Low
Low (band)
Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....
, Slowdive
Slowdive
Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, and Dead Can Dance, use a blend of ambient music, shoegazer style guitars, synths and sequenced rhythms."
Ethereal is strongly associated with the Projekt label, which features some of the most well known names of the US scene. Other labels that feature some of the leading lights of the movement are Tess Records (This Ascension
This Ascension
This Ascension is a gothic/ethereal band from Southern California that formed in 1988. They have released four albums on their own label Tess Records from 1989 to 1999 to major acclaim and growing popularity....
, Autumn), Yvy Records (Faith & Disease
Faith & Disease
Faith & Disease is a Seattle based Ethereal Wave music project formed in the early 1990s and still active. Core members are Eric Cooley and Dara Rosenwasser . The band was signed to Ivy Records and more recently Projekt Records. They have 6 full length albums and dozens of compilation appearances...
) and Middle Pillar (Aenima
Aenima
Aenima is a Portuguese gothic rock band from Almada, formed in 1997. The name of the band is a play on the Latin word "anima" meaning "soul". The band is notable for its guitar-based ambient sound and clear female vocals....
).
Notable artists
- AenimaAenimaAenima is a Portuguese gothic rock band from Almada, formed in 1997. The name of the band is a play on the Latin word "anima" meaning "soul". The band is notable for its guitar-based ambient sound and clear female vocals....
- Area (first album Radio Caroline)
- AtaraxiaAtaraxiaAtaraxia is a Greek term used by Pyrrho and Epicurus for a lucid state, characterized by freedom from worry or any other preoccupation.For the Epicureans, ataraxia was synonymous with the only true happiness possible for a person...
- Autumn
- Autumn's Grey SolaceAutumn's Grey SolaceAutumn's Grey Solace is an ethereal wave and shoegaze band from St. Augustine, Florida. It consists of vocalist Erin Welton and multi-instrumentalist Scott Ferrell. They have released a total of six albums since 2002.-History:...
- BjorkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
(HomogenicHomogenicHomogenic is the fourth studio album by Icelandic musician Björk, released in September 1997. Produced by Björk, Mark Bell, Guy Sigsworth, Howie B and Markus Dravs, it was released on One Little Indian Records...
and VespertineVespertineVespertine, is the fifth studio album by the Icelandic recording artist Björk, released on 27 August 2001. On this album, Björk creates a quiet, introverted world of microbeats and personal lyrics...
) - Black Tape for a Blue GirlBlack tape for a blue girlBlack Tape for a Blue Girl is an American Dark Wave band formed in 1986 by Projekt Records' founder Sam Rosenthal. Their music takes on elements of dark cabaret, Dark Wave, ethereal, ambient and neoclassical music. Director David Lynch...
- Cocteau TwinsCocteau TwinsCocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
(1983-1986) - The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
(Disintegration) - Dark OrangeDark OrangeDark Orange is an Ethereal wave band from Hamburg, Germany and is probably best known for their gothic rendition of Paul Simon's "Sounds of Silence"....
- Dead Can DanceDead Can DanceDead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
(EP and first album) - Faith & DiseaseFaith & DiseaseFaith & Disease is a Seattle based Ethereal Wave music project formed in the early 1990s and still active. Core members are Eric Cooley and Dara Rosenwasser . The band was signed to Ivy Records and more recently Projekt Records. They have 6 full length albums and dozens of compilation appearances...
- How to Dress WellHow to Dress WellHow to Dress Well is the stage name of experimental pop producer and singer, ethereal/R&B artist Tom Krell, from Brooklyn. His debut album, Love Remains, was released in 2010 on Lefse in the USA and Tri Angle in UK/Europe/Asia. It received a score of 8.7 and the "Best New Music" designation from...
- Lisa GerrardLisa GerrardLisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
- Love Spirals DownwardsLove Spirals DownwardsLove Spirals Downwards was an ethereal darkwave, dream pop, Atmospheric drum'n'bass and electronica recording act from California.-History:Love Spirals Downwards was begun by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Lum and then-girlfriend Suzanne Perry. In 1991, Lum and Perry recorded a demo, which led to a...
- LovesliescrushingLovesliescrushingLovesliescrushing is a dream pop, lo-fi, ambient, noise band, that formed in the fall of 1991 in East Lansing, Michigan and later moved to Tucson, Arizona. The two primary members of the band are Scott Cortez and Melissa Arpin-Duimstra...
- LushLush-People:* Archibald Lush, a Welsh school inspector* Billy Lush, an American actor* David Lush, Canadian politician* Ernie Lush, American Baseball player* Jay Laurence Lush, an American geneticist* Jane Lush, a British worker...
- LyciaLycia (band)Lycia is a darkwave/gothic rock band that was formed in 1988, Tempe, Arizona, United States. The main personnel of the band are Mike VanPortfleet, Tara Vanflower, David Galas and . Although only achieving minor cult success, the band is notable for being one of the ground breaking groups in...
- Mors SyphiliticaMors SyphiliticaMors Syphilitica is a Gothic rock/Ethereal band formed in 1995 in New York City by Lisa Hammer and Eric Hammer after the breakup of Requiem in White. Their music combines often-surreal lyrics with unusual instruments such as the mandolin and banjo, as well more conventional instruments such as the...
- Ostia
- Shikata Akiko
- Sigur RosSigur RósSigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
- Siddal
- Soul Whirling Somewhere
- Stare
- Tearwave
- The Eden HouseThe Eden HouseThe Eden House is a collaborative musical project, initiated by Stephen Carey and involving a collection of guest musicians and vocalists; then later joined by Tony Pettitt .Their debut album Smoke & Mirrors was released on April 6, 2009 in the United States and...
- This AscensionThis AscensionThis Ascension is a gothic/ethereal band from Southern California that formed in 1988. They have released four albums on their own label Tess Records from 1989 to 1999 to major acclaim and growing popularity....
- This Mortal CoilThis Mortal CoilThis Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...
- Trance to the Sun