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LYCIA – Tripping Back Into The Broken Days LYCIA – Tripping Back Into The Broken Days (CD 2002) (Projekt Records, www.projekt.com )
Of course, their latest album is a marvelous release again, even, if the sound changed a bit. The band has recorded a very relaxing album of „pure music“, mostly with acoustic Guitars and only a few electronic influences. The info says „Sparse instrumentation flows with simple and raw, heartfelt songs.“ That´s it, I cannot describe it better. Of course, the whole thing sometimes reminds on some of the World Serpent bands, but the voices of Mike and Tara VanPortfleet are uncomparable, so this album becomes a real LYCIA release. I sometimes thought of some tracks by Julee Cruise, who sang the unforgettable „Falling“ in „Twin Peaks“ (by the way: the best ever TV production!). A main theme in the lyrics seems to be „Winter“. The band uses really often words like „December“, „Winter“, „Icy“ and „Cold“, on the other side, there are themes like „Summer“, „Sunny“, „Desert“, „Green“ and so on. My favourite lyrics are „Pale Blue Prevails“. This is possibly the „purest“ LYCIA album ever and a simply wonderful, too. Well, I hope, the band does not have to live in the house on the cover! (A.P.) LYCIA - Compilation Appearances Vol. 2 (CD 2001) (Projekt, www.projekt.com)
LYCIA – Compilation Appearances Vol. 1 (CD 2001) ( Projekt Records www.projekt.com )
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After
a break of more than two years, finally here is the new album of Projekt
Records finest LYCIA. I always liked this band, because of their really
unique mixture of dreamy Pop, ethereal sounds and New Wave atmosphere,
which surely influenced many bands of the 90s. beside Black Tape For A
Blue Girl, LYCIA defined the „typical“ sound of Projekt Records.
„The
Ohio Years 1995 - 99“ ist the subtitle of this actual release of America´s
LYCIA. As the title promises, the CD features many tracks, that have been
released only on various compilations around the world in the last years
or songs, that have been planned for samplers, which haven´t been
released finally. So, „Compilation Appearances Vol.2“ actually feature
some yet unreleased tracks, what makes the CD even necessary for
collectors, who own all the original compilation albums. LYCIA´s music is
very atmospheric, sometimes ambient and ethereal, but also with a more
song orientated New Wave feeling. As it reminds me on a more underground
version of the Heavenly Bodies, there is a certain 80s feeling, too.
Somewhere between early This Mortal Coil, Richenel and Frazier Chorus or,
more generally dedicated to the typical mid 80s 4AD sound, which was
one of the greatest labels ever. I guess, LYCIA often heard this 4AD
comparisons, but it is not meant negative, but in an absolutely positive
way. Anyway, LYCIA are not a copy of this 80s sound, but create their very
own style. It is hard to comment on a special song on this release,
because of the general quality of the material, but there is a worth
mentioning cover of „In A Lonely Place“, which was first released on a
Joy Division Tribute album (even, if the song finally was released on New
Order´s first 12“ „Ceremony“, a Joy Divison composition, too). I
think, Ian Curtis would have loved the LYCIA version of this track, which
is close to the emotional feeling, that was in „Atmosphere“. Further
there are two live versions of „The Morning Breaks So Cold And
Gray“and „Grey Clouds“, which make me nervous (in a positive way),
so that I feel unlucky, that I never had the chance to see LYCIA playing
live. Hope, that they will visit Europe some day. Until then,
„Compilation Appearances Vol.2“ is a good chance to become familiar
with LYCIA and start collecting all their fine albums. (A.P.)
After
LYCIA decided to have a break, there was the idea, of compiling al the
stuff, which was originally released on various CD- and Vinyl-Compilations
plus the tracks of Sessions under the name of „Dust“ and unreleased stuff.
While Volume 2 of the „Compilation Appearances“ features the band history
of the second half of the 90s, Volume 1 gives a nearly perfect overview
about the „Arizona Years“ from 1990 to 1994. It was the period, when the
band was much darker than in their later days. LYCIA have been very much
influenced by the 80s New Wave Genre, maybe it can be described as a
mixture of early, dark Cure-Sound and early/mid 80s 4 AD style. Tracks
like „Byzantine“ also have a certain Fields Of The Nephilim touch and are
nothing for sunny summerdays or wedding-partys or things like that. Many
of these tracks are very hard to find or have never seen the light of an
official release, so „Compilation Appearances Vol. 1“ becomes an essential
piece for fans of the band, who like to complete their collection of one
of America´s most outstanding and consequent Gothic-/Dark Wave-Bands of
the 90s. As far, as I know most of LYCIA´s releases, I really love all of
them, so I do love „Compilation Appearances Vol. 1“ too. (A.P.)
(Projekt,
