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
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
25 Years
lycia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A fate hand delivered by me
How could I have known?
Just a boy, how could I ever know?
Nothing, can take this from me
Nothing
Please forgive me
25 years for me to see
From the relief of A to the dark guilt of B
How could I have known?
Just a boy, how could I ever know?
Nothing, can take this from me
Nothing
Please forgive me
Nothing, can take this from me
Nothing
Please forgive me
Nothing can take this away
Nothing can take this away
Nothing can take this away
Nothing
This glory slips away
The lyrics to Lycia's song "25 Years" speak to the regrets and guilt of someone who has reached a certain age and looks back on their life, realizing the mistakes they have made along the way. The first stanza begins with the age of 25 and reflects on a fate that was delivered by the singer themselves, indicating a sense of responsibility and agency for their life choices. However, they quickly pose the rhetorical question, "How could I have known?" which suggests that perhaps they feel they were not equipped or mature enough to make the right decisions at the time, despite feeling like they were.
The second stanza continues to reflect on the past, with the singer acknowledging a spectrum that they have experienced, from the "relief of A to the dark guilt of B." This contrast highlights a shift from a sense of freedom, joy, or innocence to guilt, shame, or regret. Once again, the question of "How could I have known?" is posed, indicating that the singer is struggling to come to terms with their own past and the impact it has had on their current situation.
The refrain "Nothing can take this from me" is repeated throughout the song, providing a sense of determination and a desire to hold on to something that has significance. However, the repetition of "Please forgive me" at the end of each stanza suggests that the singer also realizes that they have hurt others or made mistakes that they cannot fully rectify.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of regret and the realization that there are some things in life that cannot be undone. It also reflects on the struggle to come to terms with one's own past and the desire to be forgiven by others and oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
25 years and in between
Reflecting on the past 25 years of my life with all the ups and downs in between.
A fate hand delivered by me
Realizing that the course of my life has been shaped by my own decisions and actions.
How could I have known?
Reminiscing on how I could not have foreseen the consequences of my choices back then.
Just a boy, how could I ever know?
Admitting that in my youth, I didn't fully comprehend the outcomes of my decisions.
Nothing, can take this from me
Acknowledging that nothing can change the past and the experiences that have shaped me.
Please forgive me
Asking for forgiveness for any mistakes or regrets that I have.
25 years for me to see
Realizing that it took me 25 years to fully understand the consequences of my actions.
From the relief of A to the dark guilt of B
Exploring how life has taken me from times of comfort and contentment to times of remorse and guilt.
Nothing can take this away
Reiterating that nothing can change or erase the memories and experiences that I have lived through.
This glory slips away
Acknowledging that the positive aspects of my life can be temporary and fleeting.
Nothing can take this away
Reiterating that nothing external can completely erase the past and its impact on me.
Nothing can take this away
Stressing that despite the challenges and regrets, the past remains part of my identity.
Nothing can take this away
Emphasizing that the experiences and lessons learned are invaluable and cannot be taken away.
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.