c86
what it is
C86 is/was a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine New Musical Express (NME) in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, and is now often used synonymously with "indie pop" or "twee", although other musical styles were represented on the tape.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make c86 a playlist
turn these 21 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is c86?
C86 is/was a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine New Musical Express (NME) in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, and is now often used synonymously with "indie pop" or "twee", although other musical styles were represented on the tape.
What are good c86 albums to start with?
Try Truckload Of Trouble by The Pastels, Modern Fiction by Ducks Ltd., Sonic Flower Groove by Primal Scream, and The New Record by My Bloody Valentine by my bloody valentine.
Who are some women making c86?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/c86/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making c86, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20