ALBUM REVIEW: Casa Luna – Lycia

With more than thirty years of experience behind them, LYCIA bring their latest work to the table, Casa Luna. Their brand of darkwave has been of some notoriety in their early work, and has stood the test of time for listeners looking for something unearthly to attach their darker sentiments to.

As expected, starting mellow and otherworldly, A Quiet Way To Go echoes a sirens call of smooth vocals and signing symbols. The title is essentially the only lyrical content on offer, a rolling repetition that blends into the guitar work. It’s simple and calming, but a little bland and self-involved at almost four minutes of sounds, especially for an introductory song.

There is a little more substance to Do You Bleed, with more trance inducing synth sounds and haunting vocals. It really only hits any kind of mark when it pushes into the three-minute point, wherein a darker and more menacing angle is fixed upon and the overall ambience pressures into something a little more substantial.

Except has more body to it than the previous tracks, still keeping to its 80s roots and its simple approach to creating a calming but generally melancholy atmosphere. There’s definitely more going on here, more to react to and less pretentious showmanship to the overall song. It’s something that Trent Reznor would definitely take inspiration from, if that’s anything to go by.

Another drab and underwhelming tune, On The Mezzanine is a repetition of classical guitar and ghostly vocal calls. There are some nice chord changes in there, but it’s so steeped in a sense of nothingness, it could still be a demo.

Galatea is the stand out piece here, where there’s more of a push and pull between some beautiful synth work and the sorrowful tone that comes through the vocals. There’s always a drama to darkwave that feels a little bit over the top, but this balances that with some actual musicality that shifts away from just one churning movement. However, it really is just too long for what it is, 90 seconds could be shaved off this and nothing would be lost.

It’s a bit of a drag getting into the start of Salt & Blood, which honestly feels like a rehash of On The Mezzanine, with perhaps slightly more emphasis on the drumming in the mix. Things become even more avant-garde by stripping all that away and diminishing into breathed vocalisations and an unnecessarily quiet middle section you might nod off to. All in all, it’s quite disappointing. 

While LYCIA have undoubtedly made a career from introspective lyrics and ethereal tones, Casa Luna doesn’t hit the spot. Unlike their early work, this fails to make you feel truly drowned in its despair, or connected to as an individual in your own. Mostly, it’s hard to feel much more than bored with what’s been offered here.

Rating: 4/10

Casa Luna is out now via Avantgarde Music.

Like LYCIA on Facebook.