CXIX. Faith And The Muse | Elyria

FAITH AND THE MUSE

Elyria

©Tess. US, 1994.

‟Faith and the Muse found me at a very good time, a time i was searching for something new to listen to, something i could really latch on to - the 'next big thing'. And they fit the bill perfectly. 'Annwyn, Beneath the Waves', their second, was actually the one to reach me first, but it was only a matter of time from there that i delved into the rest of their catalogue, including Elyria, their debut.

Very diverse band, tying in lots of gothic, Celtic, and even tribal influences... and i love tribal influences. Dark, atmospheric, moody, heavy, they run pretty much the whole Gauntlet of Goth. Vocalist/instrumentalist Monica Richards, formerly of Strange Boutique, has a wonderful, vaguely-Siouxsie Sioux-ish voice, and while she may be a little 'pitchy', the studio finds her at her best, and former-Christian Death/Mephisto Walz instrumentalist William Faith is simply incredible. And Elyria was a beautiful starting point for this highly-recommended band.‟

Drakkar

L. Trance To The Sun | Ghost Forest

TRANCE TO THE SUN

Ghost Forest

©Tess. US, 1994.

‟Like their darkwave counterparts (Faith and the Muse, Lush, Slowdive), Santa Barbara, CA's Trance to the Sun illuminated their own brooding dream pop layered with goth rock-humming for a mesmerizing spiral of modern electronica. Multi-instrumentalist Ashkelon Sain formed the musical outfit in 1989, independently releasing "Volcano" (1990) and "Dusk" (1991), but the project became a full priority when Zoe Alexandra Wakefield joined in 1993. Struggling to make a name for themselves, Trance to the Sun finally landed a deal with Tess Records in 1994, releasing a second studio effort, "Ghost Forest". Their gossamer ambience was critically received, Wakefield's haunting vocals were heavily defined among press and fans. "Bloom! Flowers Bloom" appeared in 1995, also marking the band's last for Tess, due to Sain and Wakefield establishing their own label, Ambulancia, which issued "Venomous Eve" that same year. But Trance to the Sun also suffered from shifts within the band during the mid-'90s; Sain teamed up with singer Dawn Wagner for the mini-release "Delerious". The following summer, Trance to the Sun showcased the ethereal beauty of Ingrid Blue, whose vocals captured the sheer essence on 1998's full-length "Azalean Sea". Blue also worked with Sain for 1999's "Urchin Tear Soda".‟

MacKenzie Wilson