Let's talk about Lycia.

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There seems to be far too little discussion of them on ILM, which depresses me to no end. Day in the Stark Corner is a particularly great album, and "Pray" is one of my favorite songs when I need a good dose of euphoria. Ambient synth washes + drum machines + cheap guitar effects + Mike Van Portfleet's whispery voice + TONS AND TONS OF REVERB = a wonderful combination.

I know Ned and J0hn are fans, but who else here likes them?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 26 March 2004 02:48 (twenty-two years ago)

(well, I thought J0hn liked 'em, but maybe I'm completely misremembering)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 26 March 2004 02:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cold" ... mmmmmm.
Is there a Projekt Records thread?

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 26 March 2004 03:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Just found some:
defending the indefensible: Projekt Records
Black Tape For A Blue Girl : C or D / S and D

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 26 March 2004 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm pretty sure J0hn does! And yes, I am a committed fan, most of the AMG reviews if not all are mine, while the Bleak and Tara Vanflower side albums are also worth it. They are/were (their status seems to keep altering) a band that initially seems to simply have That One Sound, and no question there's a general template, but when Tara joined Mike as an active collaborator -- and before that too -- the variety was welcome without losing that strange key trance Curtis identifies.

It's interesting that the seemingly simple and cheap combination which Curtis describes could so easily sound so vast, mysterious and haunting. It gives the lie to lo-fi as an obvious sound -- a good chunk of the albums, including Day in the Stark Corner -- my own introduction to them -- were recorded on 4-track but embrace none of the typical hallmarks of the time/approach.

Anyway, my own 136 list entry for The Burning Circle and Then Dust, which is really something.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 March 2004 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Revive to note that Silber Records, which is where the Lycia collective have moved after a decade plus with Projekt, is releasing VanPortfleet's first solo album as such, Beyond the Horizon Line. Listening to a promo copy right now, it's quite excellent but also agreeably different from Lycia -- no drums or vocals, prominent keyboard washes and slow howling rhythms, yet for all that is still immediately recognizable as his work. He really has made a particular sound his own, credit to him.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 July 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Take back the 'no drums and vocals' comment, fifth song at least has that classic slow, reverbed to hell drum machine pace and whisper (though both are so utterly and heavily treated as to be the background rather than forefront of said tune), and in combination with the utterly stretched out guitar line is the most classically 'Lycia' song so far on here.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 July 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

as long as whatshername ain't on it...

― el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Sunday, 25 July 2004 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I said solo and solo it is.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 July 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm friends with someone in Unto Ashes. When I first saw them, she comes over to me afterwards and, being po-mo *and* goth,
an intrinsically problematic combo, and seeing the expression on my face, she's like, "I know! I know!" but she's also like, it's my band and I love this sort of stuff so please don't be a prick.

― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Monday, 26 July 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I like them folks in Unto Ashes -- chatted with Michael and one of the women in the one band online a couple of times, friendly folks, and the music is mighty fine.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 26 July 2004 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus, they have all these authentically Olde instruments--and they can play then, even.

― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Monday, 26 July 2004 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

i'm reviewing the reissue of "the burning circle" right now, and it makes me want to hear the original double album, even though the last 4 tracks on this one just float so nicely and wash over me. i'm in.

― reo fordecor (reo), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 03:30 (nineteen years ago)

wow, they cut out EIGHT tracks? that's lame. especially as it was the last album of their better period.

― GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 06:03 (nineteen years ago)

seven years pass...

never heard them before (or of them, for that matter, not that i know of.) listening to the new one on spotify and it's p sweet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb4X6eYBUVs

― christmas candy bar (al leong), Thursday, 29 August 2013 20:04 (twelve years ago)

Yeah they've kept at it well all this time! Would to try and get more attention for this new one somewhere...

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 29 August 2013 20:13 (twelve years ago)

I was hoping the cd version of the album would turn up on amazon, but only mp3 has shown up. Need to buy an ipod.

― Robert Adam Gilmour, Thursday, 29 August 2013 20:41 (twelve years ago)

four years pass...

Projekt reissued Ionia on CD! For people who need it and buy CDs!

― my dreams in the hell-pits (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Friday, 26 January 2018 10:35 (eight years ago)

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