Shoegaze is a subgenre of alternative rock characterized by an ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion, and 'walls of sound.' The name was coined by the British music press because the musicians often stood still on stage, looking down at their extensive array of effects pedals rather than at the audience. Bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive used techniques like 'glide guitar'—achieved by holding the tremolo arm while strumming—and heavy use of digital reverb and delay. The goal was to create a sensory, immersive experience where the instruments blurred together into a wash of noise. My Bloody Valentine's album 'Loveless' is considered the definitive Shoegaze record, famously taking years to record due to the band's obsession with achieving the perfect, otherworldly guitar textures.