Lycia

The Profile

Lycia is an American darkwave band formed in 1988 by Mike VanPortfleet in Arizona. Longtime collaborators include Tara VanFlower and David Galas. Their sound blends ethereal atmospheres, ambient drones, and glacial rhythms, defining key 1990s darkwave releases such as A Day in the Stark Corner and the double album The Burning Circle and Then Dust.

Formed in Tempe, Arizona (1988) by Mike VanPortfleet; associated with Projekt Records; core collaborators include Tara VanFlower and David Galas. Reviews cite influences and affinities with Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, Pink Floyd, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and Swans; styles span darkwave, ethereal wave, ambient, and shoegaze.

DeBaser’s reviews paint Lycia as a cornerstone of American darkwave, weaving glacial ambience, ethereal voices, and mournful drum machines. Albums like A Day in the Stark Corner (1993), Ionia, Cold, and the double set The Burning Circle and Then Dust (1995) are praised for immersive, dreamlike desolation. Influences cited include Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, shoegaze, and cosmic Krautrock, with nods to Swans and Pink Floyd. The overall verdict: haunting, immersive, and highly recommended.