Search - Bleak :: Vane

A low-fi, more danceable version of Lycia

Scott Sweet | Colorado Springs, CO | 03/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Vane" was an outlet for the harsher, more industrial side of Lycia's slow ether-rock. The whole album has kind of a fuzzed-out, distorted quality. It's like listening to a Lycia album when your car speakers are blown. If you've heard Lycia's "Live," this CD has a similar sound.Vocally and lyrically, it's standard Lycia (which is fine with me). The beats are harder, and there's no acoustic anything. The majority of the music is effects-drenched guitar and a synth beat. Standouts:
"In Vain" - a smooth, galloping dance beat with a good hard snare and a thick wall of guitar glaze.
"Darkness" - my favorite track; melancholy space-rock that would fit really well on Lycia's "Cold".
"Forever and Ever" - a good, strong finale that would fit on Lycia's "Ionia" if it didn't have so much distortion and noise processing. The ethereal sequence at the end has a good mystic feel.In the past six weeks, "Vane" has become scarce. If you can snag it, it's a good addition to the body of Lycia's work. All the Lycia basics are still there. It was just a rougher, edgier direction for Mike Vanportfleet and company."

An excellent album

Natalie Mills | Reservoir, VIC, Australia | 11/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is the only Bleak album (a side-project of Lycia) by frontman Mike VanPortfleet...he kept promising a second but sadly, it never materialised. If you like early Lycia, you'll love this - it's harsher and more industrial (in the sense of 'industry', not 'second-rate hardcore dancefloor doof'), but with a similar black atmospheric snarl to the music and the cold, whispered, sinister vocals of Mike well present. My favourite track is the lovely 'One Last Breath', with the innocuous line of 'It's over, and I feel fine' rendered utterly chilling by the delivery - a real psychopathic-just-controlled feel. Awesome stuff. I've been very disappointed in recent Lycia releases - I'm afraid I just don't like Tara's voice, and she seems to become more and more prevalent at the expense of Mike. Bleak's 'Vane', however, is dark and divine, sharp and hostile, immersing, crushing and wintry and just brilliant. Very, very highly recommended."

Bleak "Vane"

draecke | The Emerald City, Washington | 01/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Blackness around often signifies hope rather than cause for despair. This is the essence of Bleak." (from Projekt's cd promo sticker)Bleak is an off-shoot project of the legendary Goth group, Lycia. It features David Galas along with Lycia's founder (& guitar god), Mike Vanportfleet, and was recorded in the winter of '93-'94. Those familiar with Lycia will recognize here a similarility in style -- dark, mystical soundscapes with effects-laden guitars, synthesizers, & drum machine -- but with a much harder industrial edge. Vanportfleet complements the surreal mood with his characteristic ominous whisper. From beginning to end "Vane" is truly a mind-blowing listening experience, like the Gothick soundtrack to some great ancient pagan rite."