Whether they call themselves post-punk, psych or indie pop, a wide array of Bay Area musicians cultivate lush atmospheres and textural depth in songs that are as sonically detailed as they are catchy.
The Bay Area’s “dream pop” standouts—eleven of whom are featured in this mixtape—include a number of promising new bands, like Topographies, a quartet whose stellar debut single is an exciting burst of fuzzed-out, propulsive rock.
Other highlights include Tanukichan, the project of Oakland’s Hannah Van Loon, whose layered music weighs heavy with emotional impact, and Mare Island, a band of local music vets who incorporate string and brass arrangements into ambitious songs that call to mind both classic emo and shoegaze.
We’ve also included here music from Pllush‘s first LP, which ranks among the year’s best on the strength of its tight and noisy melodic pop, as well as expansive tunes from psych-influenced bands like Moon Daze and Fine Points.
Listen to the mixtape to learn more about all eleven bands and artists featured in this mix.
