Customer Reviews

Estrella

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After this seventh album, Lycia closed shop. Somehow, they manage to blend the guitar haze of "Ionia," the dream-synth of "The Burning Circle and Then Dust," and the upbeat drum tracks of "Wake." The vocals are the same as always; Tara's the maiden, Mike is the ghost hovering nearby. Might as well go out strong.

"Estrella" continues Lycia's tradition of using sound to create a season. The opening track sets the scene: you're lying face-up in a grassy field at 7 pm. It's about 65 degrees. Slowly, you realize the atmosphere has peeled away, and you can see every single star. These songs get as close to a "summer" theme as anything in Lycia's past. After years of making music to beat the Arizona heat, it was time.

This is a soothing, hypnotic closing chapter for Lycia. After the autumn leaves have blown away and the snow has melted, "Estrella" invites the listener to look up and hear the stars dragging themselves across the sky.

Well the weather is cold and gloomy, the lights are dimmed, I have my moon candle burning with incense, it's pouring rain outside and Lycia has haunted my stereo, so what better time to write a review for it? ...

Everyone seems to be interpreting rather than explaining *Estrella* by Lycia so this is how I invision it... The lyrics, along with the icy soundscapes, bring to mind cold winter nights when the rain has all but fallen. Your standing outside, shivering beneath slick, barren trees as you take in and breathe out the crisp, fresh air. The darkened clouds begin to part in the sky now, which comes to reveal a beautiful, gaping sea of blinking eyes... Either that or I picture a glittery, silver moon with snowflakes dancing beneath the stars...

Lycia is just another band I've come to love that's signed to the darkwave-goth label 'Projekt' and this has only fueled my desire to delve further into their other works. I don't know what their other albums sound like but *Estrella* (which means star in Spanish) is very mellow with ambient synths and subtle drum/guitar programs by Mike Portfleet, who also contributes to some foreboding vocal touches. Tara is the leading lady however and her gorgeous layerings bleed into the background to compliment, rather than take away, from the music.

After the departure of sideman instrumentalist David Galas, who contributed significantly to their previous two albums _Cold_ and _The Burning Circle And Then Dust_, Lycia are now just Mike and Tara. Tara has taken up some of the slack, although not in the same capacity; her swooning, blissful lyrics and vocals lead more than half of the songs, up from 3 on _Cold_ and just 2 on _Burning Circle_. They also demonstrate an increased stylistic range and clarity, as on the Dead Can Dance-ish "Tongues" and stark "El Diablo". Meanwhile, Mike returns with his bare, unique single-string guitar parts, thoughtful instrumentals ("Clouds In The Southern Sky", "Distant Fading Star"), and haunting, whispered vocals, as well as bringing back the simpler rhythmic forms of the earliest Lycia material. All in all, enrapturing and very satisfying, as only Lycia can be. Count yourself lucky, as I do, if you know and love them.

Epic. Truly incredible. A mesmerizing journey into the outer regions of space-time with threads extending back to the nether ages. Lycia have done it again. A distant shining star indeed. Music that floats on the edge of dreams and evoke thoughts of time blurred legends.

I must concur with the previous reviewer with my own praises of this incredible album. A long time fan, I've anxiously awated each Lycia album since the early nineties and have never been dissapointed. Silver Sliver in my favorite so far although all are of high quality and entrance me. The ending instrumental is glorious in its guitar work. I first heard some of these songs live on their 97 Cold tour in Salt Lake City and am happy to attach titles to what I heard. Simply excellent.

Lycia has re-released their last album, Estrella. This album is breathtaking, to say the least. Called "Dark Wave" by Silber Records, this album recalls the glory days of the Cocteau Twins. Lycia released their final album at the end of the 1990s. Being made up Tara Vanflower and Mike VanPortfleet, Lycia creates dark, moody ambient pieces that are enigmatic and emotive.

"Clouds in the Southern Sky" begins the album and leads the listener into the world of Estrella. It is a slow tempo track with simple drums and wonderful layers upon layers of wistful keys that create a luscious soundscape. "El Diablo" also has a beautiful, haunting melody. Vanflower offers her vocals mixed in among the waves. The drum work and vocal work remind me of those Cocteau Twins moments when they were most haunting. This track is about a serpent, the Devil, who has a woman captive in his convincing grip. What is awesome is the ability, not only of the lyrics to convey darkness, but the lush, haunting darkness that is contained in the music to match them. "Tainted" is a slow, patient piece that creates a somber mood with VanPortfleet on vox. His vocals feel very gothic amidst the dramatic mood created by the music. The song is about the loss of innocence and hope.

"Tongues" starts with tribal-like drums. The spacey sounds come in and then Vanflower releases the power of her voice. It's gorgeous, especially when she really lets it go. In this track, her voice is used as an instrument among the floating keys. "Estrella" is a heavenly song that actually brings a bright spot in the album. The lyrics speak of love and, perhaps, being intertwined with another whole-heartedly. "Dome" is epic sounding, with what sounds like angelic voices floating through deep, low hums. This track really has a breathy feel to it that is beautiful. This is perhaps my favorite track on the disc. "Silver Silver" starts with a light feel. Perhaps, having found love, the bliss continues for Lycia. Again, this is a breathtaking take that floats along and is light and really counter-balances the dark parts of this album.

"The Canal" begins with some drum work and works into a more ambient, listful feel that is powerful and epic. There are even some eastern sounding chords and tones in this track. Vanflower really lets her voice soar on this track and it's amazing. "The Kite" flows back into the moody, somber tone that was prominent in the first part of the disc. VanPortfleet lends his dramatic voice to the track. The lyrics have a desperate feel, with a Kite as the central point of the imagery. "Orion" is spacey and Vanflower sings about love again and uses imagery of the stars to describe her moments. It's really an intricate, beautiful track that sets up the track that anchors this fabulous disc. "Distant Fading Star" is just a beautifully executed ambient track. It really ends the disc in a perfect way and finishes the feel of the whole disc in an epic style.

This is a completely coherent piece of art. It is a very dark album, but it has moments where the light peers through the cracks and crags of the mournful, sorrowful ambience. The landscapes are bleak at times, but they are oh so beautiful. Estrella is a brilliant piece of art.

There's something about Lycia that sets is apart from the rest of Projekt's lineup (which is well-deserving in itself). This album, filled with stellar imagery (Lycia tend to have themes on their albums - Estrella means 'star'), is certainly one to be enjoyed at night. The best tracks are filled with brooding, trippy atmospherics, with Tara's voice blending in and out, making for one of those listening experiences after which you wonder why it went by so quickly, feeling like for a little while you were at a place just a bit more magical than this one, longing for more. Best enjoyed with a skylight, away from light pollution, in full view of the stars.

I think this is Lycia's best recording. It is a great dark and lovely piece of work. The male and female vocals offer great variety. My favorite track would be "Estrella" (spanish for 'star'), it is a fluid and beautiful love song. Definitely, a nighttime introspective recording.

I consider myself fortunate to have over- heard Lycia on a college radio station several weeks ago. I could only find her album on amazon. Buy it!!

The album is wonderful.
The artwork is inspiring, as
well as the music itself.
I've been a Lycia fan for awhile now
and this album kicks butt.