Bethany Curve

Bethany Curve
Lineup circa 2001-04, L - R: Mac Wha, Millang, Lockhart, Guevara
Background information
Origin	Santa Cruz, California, USA
Genres	Shoegaze Alternative rock Dream pop
Years active	1994 — Present
Labels	Hypnosigh Unit Circle Kitchen Whore
Website	http://www.bethanycurve.com
Members
Richard Millang (vocals, guitar) Nathan Guevara (lead guitar) David Mac Wha (drums)
Former members
Ray Lake (guitar, vocals) Chris Preston (bass) Daved Lockhart (bass/ cello)

Bethany Curve is a shoegaze / alternative rock band from Santa Cruz, California.

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. Frontman Richard Millang initially hated it as it reminded him of Catherine Wheel but was outvoted and eventually came to admire the name.^[1] 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 Unit CIrcle Rekkis who thought it was the best demo tape they'd heard. Bethany Curve became the first artist to officially sign to the company.^[2]

Their debut album Skies a Crossed Sky was released to positive reviews and seemed to fill the void left by Slowdive before reforming to Mojave 3. 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.^[3] The swirling guitars on the album have been compared to the sound of Cocteau Twins' Victorialand.^[4] 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^[5] 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.^[6] Three years in the making, it is arguably their most complex and polished recording to date. After completing their 3-record deal with Unit Circle Rekkids, the band linked a new deal with to Kitchen Whore Records 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.^[5]

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^[7] with the bands 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 reminiscent somewhat of Dead Can Dance.

Influences

The main influence of the band is Pixies along with other 4AD stable icons such as Cocteau Twins. The Cure and Depeche Mode have also been cited as influences by various members of the band.^[5]

Discography

Albums

• Mee-Eaux (1995)
• Skies a Crossed Sky (1996)
• Gold (1998)
• You Brought Us Here (2001)
• Murder! (TBD 2009)

EP

• Flaxen (2004)

Compilation appearances

Notes

External links

• Official site
• Myspace