The terms "lush" and "atmospheric" are over used expressions in the world of music journalism. However, there are really few other turns of phrase that adequately describe the music of Santa Cruz, California's Bethany Curve. With their typically ethereal and dreamy, reverb heavy style, BC's latest release Flaxen, is a beautifully dissonant collection of songs that capture the essence of the band's motto: "atmosphere, arrangement, sound, layering, noise." This axiom, however, while certainly adequate, leaves out one key element of Bethany Curve's music, and that is movement, an attribute that is especially present on Flaxen. Each track on Flaxen suggests sensuous and fluid motion, without the benefit of synthesizers or stringed instruments other than Nathan Guevara and Richard Millang's guitar accompanied by Daved Lockhart's bass. Indeed, it is this ability to create soaring and sweeping guitar driven music that separates Bethany Curve from others in the shoegaze tradition in which they clearly feel at home. While certainly comfortable among bands such as Slowdive, Flying Saucer Attack, The Curve and My Bloody Valentine, Bethany Curve is carving out their own niche in the genre by creating deceptively orchestral compositions that defy traditional expectations of guitar driven music. If there is one weakness in this release it could be said that the flow between tracks is so seamless that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish where one begins and another leaves off, but personally, I find this to be part of Bethany Curve's strength as a band. Obviously, this is a band that has found their sound, and is not afraid to place their unique musical signature on each track. To be sure, this is a solid and consistent release in which each track represents a fluid drop in the ocean that is Bethany Curve. - Jenniger Jones, Losing Today

Tomihira's music sways back and forth between lush washed out atmospheric songs a la Sigur Ros, Slowdive, and My Bloody Valentine to delectable pop songs influenced by the likes of Messrs. R. Smith, Morrissey, Bowie, York and B. Sumner.

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