Bethany Curve
Encyclopedia
Bethany Curve is a shoegaze and alternative rock
band from Santa Cruz, California
.
but was outvoted and eventually came to admire the name. Adopting the motto "Atmosphere, Arrangement, Sound, Layering and Noise", they set out in 1995 to record a demo tape titled "Mee-eaux", an audio cassette later released through Hypnosigh Records. It was subsequently issued it to the record company Unit Circle Rekkids, who thought it was the best demo tape they'd heard. Bethany Curve became the first artist to officially sign to the company.
Their debut album Skies a Crossed Sky
was released in 1996 with positive reviews. Their 1998 follow up album Gold
is generally regarded as their best work, becoming the first Unit Circle release to break into the CMJ Top 200. The swirling guitars on the album have been compared to the sound of the Cocteau Twins
' Victorialand
. Just prior to the release of the album Chris Preston left the band with Ray Lake departing several months later. Disagreements on the direction of the band were cited as reasons for the pair's departure and Nathan Guevara was added to the new line-up as well as classically trained cellist Daved Lockhart.
A final release with Unit Circle Rekkids arrived in 2001 with You Brought Us Here
. The band created their own studio so they could be free of the constraints of the rented studio clock. Three years in the making, it is arguably their most complex and polished record to date. After completing their three-record deal with Unit Circle Rekkids, the band inked a new deal with Kitchen Whore Records
under which the EP Flaxen was released in 2004.
The sound of Bethany Curve is composed of multiple layers of guitar to create a swirling wall of sound
effect with the vocals floating gently above the surface. Their sound has been compared to that of Radiohead
, with the band's deep love for jazz music also shining through, particularly in the drumming. On later works such as You Brought Us Here
, a darker side of the band is revealed, somewhat reminiscent of Dead Can Dance
.
stable icons such as the Cocteau Twins
as major influences. The Cure
and Depeche Mode
have also been credited as inspiration by various members of the band.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
.
Biography
Founding members Richard Millang, Ray Lake, Chris Preston and David Mac Wha formed the band in 1994. Ray Lake and Chris Preston saw a local street sign reading "Bethany Curve" and decided amongst themselves it would make be perfect name for their recently formed band. Millang, the band's frontman, initially hated it as it reminded him of Catherine WheelCatherine Wheel
Catherine Wheel were a four-piece alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.-Biography:...
but was outvoted and eventually came to admire the name. Adopting the motto "Atmosphere, Arrangement, Sound, Layering and Noise", they set out in 1995 to record a demo tape titled "Mee-eaux", an audio cassette later released through Hypnosigh Records. It was subsequently issued it to the record company Unit Circle Rekkids, who thought it was the best demo tape they'd heard. Bethany Curve became the first artist to officially sign to the company.
Their debut album Skies a Crossed Sky
Skies a Crossed Sky
Skies a Crossed Sky is the debut album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 1996.-Track listing:#"Vanish" - #"Rest in Motion" - #"Troly" - #"Spacirelei" - #"Terpsichore" -...
was released in 1996 with positive reviews. Their 1998 follow up album Gold
Gold (Bethany Curve album)
Gold is the second album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 1998. Generally regarded as their best work, it become the first Unit Circle release to break into the CMJ top 200.-Track listing:#"Drag" - 7:17...
is generally regarded as their best work, becoming the first Unit Circle release to break into the CMJ Top 200. The swirling guitars on the album have been compared to the sound of the Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
' Victorialand
Victorialand
Victorialand is the fourth album by Scottish band Cocteau Twins. Working without member Simon Raymonde, who had been enlisted to work on This Mortal Coil's Filigree & Shadow album, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser and guitarist/producer Robin Guthrie produced a record almost completely devoid of...
. Just prior to the release of the album Chris Preston left the band with Ray Lake departing several months later. Disagreements on the direction of the band were cited as reasons for the pair's departure and Nathan Guevara was added to the new line-up as well as classically trained cellist Daved Lockhart.
A final release with Unit Circle Rekkids arrived in 2001 with You Brought Us Here
You Brought Us Here
You Brought Us Here is an album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 2001. The band created their own studio so they could be free of the constraints of the rented studio clock. Three years in the making, it is arguably their most complex and polished recording to...
. The band created their own studio so they could be free of the constraints of the rented studio clock. Three years in the making, it is arguably their most complex and polished record to date. After completing their three-record deal with Unit Circle Rekkids, the band inked a new deal with Kitchen Whore Records
Kitchen Whore Records
Kitchen Whore Records is a San Jose, California-based independent record label that released recordings by artists such as Lisa Dewey, Bethany Curve, Marc Moreland and Mute Angst Envy. The label was started in 1997.-Artists:*Bethany Curve* Gina Chiala...
under which the EP Flaxen was released in 2004.
Musical style
"The last thing in the world I want is the music to be confrontational, but I have to write so that I am satisfied not to satisfy the majority. One of my favorite things in the world is to hear a song change drastically mid-song either by tempo change or chord progression change. It's incredible thing! And as you often hear, this is one thing we do a lot of".- Frontman Richard Millang commenting on the bands musical style.
The sound of Bethany Curve is composed of multiple layers of guitar to create a swirling wall of sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
effect with the vocals floating gently above the surface. Their sound has been compared to that of Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, with the band's deep love for jazz music also shining through, particularly in the drumming. On later works such as You Brought Us Here
You Brought Us Here
You Brought Us Here is an album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 2001. The band created their own studio so they could be free of the constraints of the rented studio clock. Three years in the making, it is arguably their most complex and polished recording to...
, a darker side of the band is revealed, somewhat reminiscent of Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
.
Influences
The band has cited the Pixies along with other 4AD4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
stable icons such as the Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
as major influences. The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
and Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
have also been credited as inspiration by various members of the band.
Albums
- Mee-Eaux (1995)
- Skies a Crossed SkySkies a Crossed SkySkies a Crossed Sky is the debut album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 1996.-Track listing:#"Vanish" - #"Rest in Motion" - #"Troly" - #"Spacirelei" - #"Terpsichore" -...
(1996) - GoldGold (Bethany Curve album)Gold is the second album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 1998. Generally regarded as their best work, it become the first Unit Circle release to break into the CMJ top 200.-Track listing:#"Drag" - 7:17...
(1998) - You Brought Us HereYou Brought Us HereYou Brought Us Here is an album by Santa Cruz, California based shoegaze band Bethany Curve released in 2001. The band created their own studio so they could be free of the constraints of the rented studio clock. Three years in the making, it is arguably their most complex and polished recording to...
(2001) - Murder! (TBD, originally set for 2009)
Compilation appearances
| Year | Album | Song contribution | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Nocturne Concrète | "Gold" | Unit Circle Rekkids |
| 1998 | Splashed With Many a Speck | "Serene & Smiling" | Dewdrops Records |
| 1999 | Pixies Fuckin' Die | "Gouge Away" | Lifelike Records |
| 2000 | Pleasure Vibe 2000 | "Fire" | Unit Circle Rekkids |
| 2002 | Cocteau Twins Tribute | "Ivo" (Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals... cover) |
Dewdrops Records |