Lycia "Simpler Times" (2022)

I prefer to refrain from discussing singles here on the blog yet I find myself unable to escape this pair of songs. As a lone release with no word of an album in insight, these fruits may remain lonesome for the time being. I would very much like to hear more of the band in this stride, their last release, Casa Luna, had an experimental streak to keep each track interesting. This time the duo, John Fair and Mike Vanportfleet, hone in on tried and true song styles with an indulging, mesmerizing fashion.

Its title track Simpler Times conjures nostalgic vibes reminiscent of Gary Numan, ushering them into a dreamy affair where time drifts away. Its the main melody that shares something special with those classic Numan leads. Its shimmering aesthetic gets carried along by a tight and stiff drum machine. Soft saw synth reinforce the groove and murmuring, whispering vocals drift ghostly above in a wash of deep reverbs. The song is deadly simple yet a pleasure to let loop over and over.

A Far Away Place reaches back to Cold. Its a chilling track, the hazy shoegazing aesthetic brings unease. It toys with the tension in limbo, its dreamy state never feeling settled as the song shuffles between lighter and darker temperaments through its lead melody. Again its a simple construct moved along by another commanding drum machine arrangement that embraces its narrow design. Both songs world serve a fan well, fingers crossed for more soon in the ever approaching future!

Rating: 4/10

Lycia "Casa Luna" (2021)

 

In my initial exploration of Darkwave and Etheral music I discovered Cold, a striking record luring me into a world of music I now adore. Thirty three years strong as a band, there recent outings A Line That Connects and In Flickers had been fun listens with a couple of memorable songs but this new EP has a powerful breath of fresh air. Some how, these tracks leap out at me, with each one presenting some sort of angle, perhaps adjacent to an influence or idea. It makes sense that they come in this packaging with such variety and a stiff sense of flow. It feels experimental but the more I listened, the more I loved how it moves, held together by aesthetic and voice as its bold pallet of moods tilt from one direction to the next.

On The Messanine, Salt & Blood are these slow and dreary journeys through haunted dreams, beautiful yet wrapped in a sorrow. It fondly reminded me of Autumns Grey Solace but even more so the opening A Quiet Way To Go. Tara Vanflower's wordless voicings sound so much like Erin, with the bleak guitars behind her luring in that familiar Ethereal feeling. Its Mike Vanportfleet who ushers in the pivot as he softly whispers the songs name and it blossoms with color and resonance. The guitar chord that turns the corner is luscious and stellar. Its acoustic tone is sublime. The tracks structure alternates back and forth a couple of times and that is all it needs.

Do You Bleed is one meaty grinder of a track, its percussion hammers out strikess of distortion in its industrious menace as rumblings of dirty bass pound away below. Its ugly guitars birth a wicked sense of atmosphere and Vanflower watches over it all with a touch of venom in her voice as she commands suffering. Reminded me of Punisher & Author's take on Industrial. Where this one reached low the following Except glides on a high with a graceful atmosphere and warm strings a poppy melody propelled by its mechanical drum machine. Its opening synth jive strongly reminded me of something but as the song grows that tends to fade. I think its initial influence would be something to the likes of Gary Numan or the Tubeway Army.

Lastly Galatea is quite the upbeat, pop track with a more modern feel too. It weaves its chirpy melody into the Ethereal unraveling of its airy synths and Vanportfleet's gothic and pained voice as he sings soft words into the reverb with a ghostly incarnation. I'm not sure if these songs were particularly special or if this just scratched an itch but I found myself captivated by the albums better numbers. These songs just felt so vivid and full of identity. A great little record!

Rating: 6/10

Lycia "In Flickers" (2018)

I'll always be interested in some Ethereal Darkwave from Lycia. If its their classic Cold or the more recent A Line That Connects, it conjures a meditative mood Ive truly grown to love. They were one of a handful of bands to drew me to this cold, soothing and introspective sound that tinges on psychedelia. In Flickers has the experience I expected, forty three minutes of bleak, gloomy and forever drifting music. Its gentle and sombre in its pacing, soothing and indulgent with its reverb soaked instruments. We float precariously in a stasis of limbo, with purgatory just beyond our vision. Its a beautiful place that does not need anything happy or upbeat to be so.

For a moment the record surprised me as its second song, A Failure, includes the use of bold buzz saw synths and a punchier precussive beat that gives it a little feet moving dance and gusto. This shaped up my expectation to potentially hear an unleashing of a potent twist on the bands well defined sound. Unfortunately it wasn't so. Another one, Mist, returns to the idea for its almost five minute duration but two out of ten tracks leaves a musical idea that clearly works thoroughly unexplored. The chemistry only seems to give another dimension without taking anything away.

Through its shades of intensity and reworkings of the slow, dreary gothic soundscapes each song possesses, Rewrite stands out for its embracing of of a thick, distant and haunting sound at the heart of the song. Possibly a distortion guitar, the sound is lavished in effect pedals and comes through dense wall of ambiguous shadows. Its climatic melody soars with an unsettling darkness. Its forever marching baseline drives the song stride forward through this darkness in epic wonder.

In Flickers has all the hallmarks, slow and soft drums patter at humble pacing. Reverberated synths build snowy, chilling atmospheres and the singing of duo Mike and Tara bring arcane chorals and deeply spoken words to the fold within the composition style. Its very enjoyable and suited to its particular mood, with only a few sparks that transcend expectation Id say its a fair record, one for fans of the sound and a great introduction for those curios in Darkwave and Ethereal music.

Favorite Tracks: A Failure, Mist, 34 Palms, Rewrite, Autumn Into Winter

Rating: 6/10

Lycia "A Line That Connects" (2015)

After a ten year absence, American Darkwave band Lycia returned from the dark with their ninth full length "Quiet Moments" in 2013. At that time I didn't give it much attention and its occurred to me I've never gotten into any of there records beyond 96s "Cold" which is a favorite of mine. When I saw "A Line That Connects" pop up in my inbox I decided to make sure I give this one a proper listen. Under the impression that they had moved on from the lonely, frosty ethereal ooze of "Cold" I was pleasantly surprised to a familiar moody, dark somber tone in this record.

Its gloomy, dreary and bleak but comes through a soft, melodic embracing melancholy of airy synths gently rolling through the background mist while the percussion draws out a reluctant beat stretching the tempo to sleepy lows as singer Tara Vanflower chimes sorrowful cries behind Mike Vanportfleet's soft and whispery spoken words. Between it all glistening guitars ooze and flow, unifying the song with pale, somber melodies drenched in reveb heavy effects. Its cold, snowy and dark, but has its own flair compared to "Cold". This one isn't quite as frozen or bleak, there's a glimmer of hope shining through a sorrowful, mourning record of solitude.

Not all of the record follows this vibe, about halfway through "The Rain" kicks things into life with a punchy, rocking track with a faster tempo, pumping beat and catchy guitar riffs. Mike brings a lot of energy to his voice as he delivers foreboding lyrics through a forceful deep tone that sounds fantastic. Its a track reminiscent of 80s Goth Rock and with the following tracks the album keeps the tempo and shift of mood up for a short while before drifting back into bleak, sleepy numbers.

The production is a big step up from "Cold" but that's no surprise, nineteen years of progression gives the sounds a richer texture and depth but it doesn't stretch what the music can do. This record was an approachable dose of the Lycia sound, however it very much plays the same game and offers nothing new or unexpected. Great record but more of the same, of which I can't complain.

Favorite Songs: Silver Leaf, A Trade Out, The Rain, Hiraeth

Rating: 6/10

Lycia "Cold" (1996)

Lycia are a Darkwave group from Arizona USA who formed in 88 and have released 13 albums since then. This is the one album I have treasured from there discography, at a glance it pulled me in, and after many listens I am still captivated by its bleak and, no surprise, cold sound. This record is dreary, spacious and artic in design, these may sound like negative observations to those who like there music upbeat and chirpy, but these are all positives, in "Cold", Lycia craft a chilling soundscape that explores the darker side of life and self.

Across nine tracks this slow and bleak record paces itself with a genius that keeps me gripped from start to end. Despite similarities from each song to another, they provide passive melodies, subtle sounds and shadowy riffs that stick in the mind. The chilling sound is shaped through guitars and keys soaked in a vast reverb that bleed into each other effortlessly. The drum kit follows the same aesthetic and its slow, decaying pace and lack of complexity fitting the mood entirely. There are both male and female vocals that provide an important human presence in the experience, they are gentle, distant and sorrowful in nature.

There are some beautiful and effortless progressions in the songs as they gradually build up to crashing bells, subtle eerie choirs and other sounds that really add purpose to these passive pieces. This is a soundtrack for the cold, obviously, but these songs really paint a picture in the mind of countrysides covered by snowy blankets that captivate and dazzle, yet are perilous to humans. The dark and bleak atmospheres this music produces is unique, yet familiar, I enjoy it every time I visit.

Favorite Tracks: Frozen, Bare, Colder, Snowdrop, Drifting

Rating: 8/10