The early ’90s. Gen X. VHS. TGIF. Acid washed this, Hypercolor that. Grunge, riot grrrl, Madchester, shoegaze. You love them. You hate them. You thought they were totally rad. NOT.

Regardless of your stance we can all agree on one thing: in the early ’90s it became a well-known and well-documented truth that girls, in fact, rock. But while most of music’s front lines were being (wo)manned by the sneering femme-punks of the riot grrrl movement and their rapid-fire power chords, the women of the UK-based shoegaze movement were researching sonic and psychological effects pedal warfare.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to be simultaneously battered and caressed by a wind tunnel, these ladies will gladly help you pursue that inquiry. Some of them might even sing a word or two you’ll understand (one in particular will likely not.) All of them, though, look damn good doing it.