Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Home
  • Bands
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
0 Likes
0 Followers
0 Followers
Subscribe
Post-Punk.com
Post-Punk.com Post-Punk.com
  • Home
    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Terms Of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bands
    • Revival Bands
    • Labels
  • Reviews
  • Fashion
  • Log In
  • Uncategorized

Lycia Close Out 2020 With a Triumphant Cover of “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”

  • December 31, 2020
  • Frank Deserto
0
0
0
Image

Since their inception in 1988, Lycia has been one of our absolute favorite bands this side of the Atlantic. In recent years, they’ve released a string of stellar records, including 2015’s A Line That Connects and 2018’s In Flickers. While the band has been working towards a new record, they’ve just released a cover of Tubeway Army‘s seminal single “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” on Bandcamp, which is available as a “name your price” download. Listen below:

Lycia’s rendition of the highly influential track is both faithful to the original, yet retains the band’s trademark atmosphere, the perfect formula for a successful cover. Mike VanPortfleet‘s vocals pick up on every nuance of Gary Numan’s half-sung, half-spoken delivery, but deliver a more muted, textured take, a welcome change that stays true to Lycia’s core. John Fair, who played synths both in the first incarnation of the band as well as on In Flickers, shines here, utilizing a series of warm synth pads that balance the original’s futuristic tones and continue Lycia’s explorations into the darkwave movement they helped cultivate in the 1990s. The track was recorded primarily by VanPortfleet and Fair, mastered by the legendary Martin Bowes of Attrition. Additionally, Lycia’s own Tara Vanflower designed the cover art.

Both Mike and John have offered a few words about the cover’s inception as well as Lycia’s future plans:

John: My initial recording for the Gary Numan cover “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” came about completely unplanned. I recorded it one night when I initially had the intention of writing original material. The main synth patch you hear in the finished song is what inspired the cover. Mike and I have always liked synth music and we incorporated a synth in early Lycia recordings. Gary Numan’s music was always a big influence. These days my contributions to Lycia have been mainly synth-based, such as the material I worked on for the 2018 album In Flickers and some of the new songs Mike and I have in the works.

Mike: John and I started working together back in 1982. We played in a number of guitar based post-punk styled bands, but early on we shared a love of synth music, with Gary Numan being probably the most important to us. For me personally, “Down In The Park” from “Urgh A Music War was a massive influence. I saw that movie in the theater in 1981 and afterward it really stuck with me. The mood of that song in ways became the template for what I did later in Lycia in the early 90s. And a few years later, the song “Frozen” was completely influenced by Gary Numan. After years of not working together in 2017 John sent me a few synth based songs that became “A Failure” and “Mist” from In Flickers. That sort of reignited the feel of our collaborations back in the 80s. John initiated doing this cover song. I’m usually not a fan of doing covers but I love this song and thought it was worth a try, even though it was a bit intimidating because the original is so perfect. I think this song also hints at some new material we will be working on in 2021. A few guitar-based songs are done that might be a bit different than what people might expect style wise. And currently John and I are working on an updated version of a synth song we originally recorded (but never officially released) back in 1989. We have something in the works with Funeral Party Records that will at least be a 7″ vinyl release sometime next summer. I’m hoping we might get a few more songs and expand that to an EP.

Check out the full cover art for the cover below, and be sure to visit Bandcamp to pick up a digital copy. Otherwise, Happy New Year from those of us at Post-punk.com! Here’s hoping 2021 is filled with friends galore, electric or otherwise…

Purchase/download via Lycia’s Bandcamp.

 

 

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via:

  • Patreon:

  • or directly via Paypal:

  • Or by using our new Contact form here:

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Frank Deserto

Bassist of The Harrow, blogger at Systems of Romance.

Previous Article
  • Bands
  • Video Premiere

Mekong Addresses Alienation and Lust With The Powerful “Industria”

  • December 30, 2020
  • Alice Teeple
View Post
Next Article
  • Bands
  • New Releases
  • Singles

The Harrow Rings In The New Year With the Swirling, Ethereal “Beyond Stars”

  • January 1, 2021
  • Alice Teeple
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Bands
  • Remix
  • Uncategorized

Dark Rock Duo Unhappily Ever Now Debuts the Rabbit Junk Remix of “Pleading (The Haunting of Scars)”

  • Alice Teeple
  • July 12, 2023
View Post
  • Uncategorized

NYC Experimental Rock Project The Mortal Prophets Debuts New Single “Down On Me”

  • post-punk.com
  • June 29, 2023
View Post
  • Uncategorized

Angels Perch the Skyline in Darkwave Ensemble NØIR’s Video for the Paradox Obscur Remix of “Fallen”

  • Alice Teeple
  • June 12, 2023
View Post
  • Uncategorized

Multifaceted NYC Dark Electronic Music Artist Ken Fury Debuts Video for “Rain Over Clouds”

  • Alice Teeple
  • May 11, 2023
View Post
  • Bands
  • Lists
  • Uncategorized

Twin Tribes Recommend 5 New Artists You Should be Listening to Right Now

  • post-punk.com
  • May 10, 2023
View Post
  • Tour Dates
  • Tourdates
  • Uncategorized

Portland Post-Punk Act Shadowhouse and LA Synthpunk Duo Terminal A to Embark on European Tour

  • post-punk.com
  • April 21, 2023
View Post
  • Uncategorized

The Sisters of Mercy to Embark on 2023 UK and European Tour This Autumn

  • post-punk.com
  • April 12, 2023
View Post
  • Uncategorized

The Cure’s Robert Smith Talks of “Problems” and “Scams” in the Ticket Industry

  • post-punk.com
  • March 15, 2023







Post-Punk.com
© Copyright POST-PUNK.COM 2022

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Please support Post-Punk.com! You can do so via...
  • Patreon:
  • Directly via Paypal:
  • Or by using our new Contact form here:
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT