Fifth Sun

Released in 2010 after a significant period of relative silence for the project, Fifth Sun serves as a bridge between Lycia's classic 90s output and their modern era. While Mike VanPortfleet's signature 'submerged' aesthetic remains the core, this EP features a slightly crisper digital edge compared to the tape-saturated warmth of 'A Day in the Stark Corner.' The tracks are characterized by a heavy reliance on the 'wall of guitars' technique, where multiple layers of processed electric guitar create a monolithic, shimmering texture. Lyrically and thematically, the album leans heavily into elemental imagery - sun, sky, sea, and winter - reinforcing the project's long-standing connection to the desolate landscapes of the American Southwest and the internal landscapes of the mind. It was primarily a digital release, reflecting the shifting landscape of independent music distribution at the turn of the decade, yet it maintains the high-art gravity of their Projekt Records heyday.