Lycia – Tripping Back Into The Broken Days

Issue 03

Discogs

Projekt Records

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When I gave away my Metallica CD’s and traded them in for
more underground gothic music a few years back, one of
the bands that I fell for, and just could not get enough of,
was a band called Lycia. Arguably the first darkwave band
in existence, since the head of the label they are cradled
under coined the term, that man is Sam Rosenthal, that
label is Projekt.
A couple years ago Lycia called it quits, a project
blossomed from the confusing year of 1988 when goth was
in one of it’s many transitions. But Lycia was not gone for
good, for they have released a new album, entitled “Tripping
Back Into the Broken days” and yes, the rest of this text is
on that album, so read on my friends, and learn all about
the continuation of this legend.
For those of you who are familiar with Lycia’s older material,
you are in for quite a treat. Lycia has boiled their music
down to the basics, and discovered the power in simplicity.
All tracks consisting of acoustic guitars with ambient
backing and ethereal vocals from both Mike and Tara
Vanportfleet. Our opener is also our title track, TBITBD
sounds very much like a welcome back message, this was
my impression when the CD first spun in my hard drive.
Every track thereafter has intense feeling, melody and
meaning. Most songs deal with the artists battle with illness
and sometimes poverty, something many of us can relate
to. This isn’t some bullshit like the Backstreet Boys whining
about loneliness – this is genuine.
Some of the most memorable tracks include Fades Down
Far, It’s Okay to be Small, and the title track, Tripping Back
into the Broken Days.
This music has a feeling of being ageless, therefore I
believe nearly anyone can, and will, enjoy it. – Azriel J. Knight