The group was founded in May 1988 by Mike Van Portfleet, in the summer of that year Will Welch joined the project. In November, Welch was replaced by John Fair. In 1989, "Wake" was recorded, defining their droning ethereal guitar sound.
John Fair left Lycia in 1990, and Will Welch returned. In the same year Lycia signed to Projekt Records and released "Ionia" in late 1991 after aborting the original first release, titled "Byzantine". They became one of the cornerstones of the Projekt label for over a decade, and one of the most influential bands in the American darkwave scene in the 1990s. They forged a relentlessly dark and driving sound with a wall of shimmery guitars and keyboards, pounding drums, overlaid by Van Portfleet's unmistakable whispered vocals.
1992 saw the release of "A Day in the Stark Corner" and Lycia began its first live appearances. In 1993 David Galas became a permanent member, and their sound evolved with a more mature and polished depth.
In 1994 Tara Vanflower, being a huge fan of the band, decided to meet Mike, and joined as backing vocalist contributing vocals on a couple of songs that were supposed to be for compilation appearances, but ended up on "The Burning Circle and Then Dust" (1995). Tara Vanflower and Mike VanPortfleet married two years later.
The band's sound became comparatively less dark, especially on their final two albums, "Tripping Back Into the Broken Days" and "Empty Space", mostly due to Vanflower's influence. This shift away from their original sound alienated some long-time fans and eventually Lycia broke up in 2003, with Van Portfleet pursuing a solo career.
Lycia reformed in August of 2006 with Mike Vanportfleet, Tara VanFlower and David Galas. "We’ve been slowly working on new material. This time, what we are doing is each of us are bringing in our own songs and then expanding from the initial ideas".
On December 2012, Lycia announced a new release, "Quiet Moments", through their Facebook page. It was released in August 2013.
Discography:
1989 - Wake
1991 - Ionia
1993 - A Day in the Stark Corner
1995 - Live
1995 - The Burning Circle and Then Dust
1997 - Cold
1998 - Estrella
2000 - The Time Has Come and Gone (originally released as under the name Estraya)
2001 - Compilation Appearances, Vol. 1
2001 - Compilation Appearances, Vol. 2
2002 - Tripping Back into the Broken Days
2004 - Empty Spaces
2010 - Fifth Sun (EP)
2013 - Quiet Moments
2015 - A Line That Connects
2018 - In Flickers
Side projects
Bleak - Vane (1994) really just Lycia recording under a different name and exploring a "harsher" sound.
Estraya - The Time Has Come and Gone (2000) accoustic side project with Van Portfleet and Vanflower
Anywhere But Home
Lycia Lyrics
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Days that were so bare, times that seemed so low
I don't think that we can ever be together
Anywhere but home
Take me in your arms, smile for me again
Please don't ever leave, this must never end
I am so alive, why must this now end?
The lyrics of Lycia's song Anywhere But Home offer a contemplative and introspective narrative on the theme of belonging and the ephemerality of human relationships. The opening lines introduce a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past, which seemed to be characterised by simplicity and adversity. The singer expresses doubt that they can ever experience the same situation with their present company, suggesting a disenchantment with the current state of affairs.
The refrain "Anywhere but home" seems to represent a paradoxical sentiment, as it points to a desire for a different place or situation but within the context of familiarity and comfort. The singer seems to address a lover when they urge them to "take me in your arms" and "smile for me again," indicating a need for emotional connection and closeness. However, they also acknowledge the fleeting nature of human attachment when they lament that "this must never end" and express a sense of melancholy for the fact that their experiences will change them forever.
Overall, the song offers a poignant reflection on the human condition, emphasising the tension between the desire for security and a sense of rootedness and the inevitability of change and loss. The lyrics suggest that while the past may seem idealistic and the present fraught with contradictions, there is still hope for genuine connection and a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember things, things from long ago
I have vivid memories of my past, specifically the difficult moments that I have experienced in the past.
Days that were so bare, times that seemed so low
During those tough times, it felt as though things could not get any worse. The days seemed lifeless and I had no hope that things would change.
I don't think that we can ever be together
Though we may have enjoyed a deep connection in the past, it seems as though we are no longer meant to be together.
Anywhere but home
Our time together was special and meaningful, but the reality is that life pulls us in different directions. We must move on and find our own paths.
Take me in your arms, smile for me again
I yearn for the tenderness, care and affection that you once provided. I long to see a smile on your face as we share a moment together.
Please don't ever leave, this must never end
I am enjoying the joy that you bring to my life, and I am not ready to give it up. These moments with you feel finite and fleeting, so I hope that they will last forever.
I am so alive, why must this now end?
Being with you has brought me a sense of vitality and excitement that I have not felt before. It feels as though I am living life to its fullest, and I am not ready to let go of that energy.
I will never be quite the same again
Even if we must part ways, I know that the time we have shared has changed me in many ways. I will carry the memories and impact of our relationship with me always.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, KECHIL SONGS INDAH SONGS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN BOOK, DAVID SCHMITT, JOSHUA PHILIP GILBERT, LUIS BONET, TOM COOPERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind