cerulean

With no relation to the Ocean Blue, although their name -- the title of the Ocean Blue's second album -- and swirling dreamlike guitars suggest otherwise, Cerulean is a similar American treasure in awe of the pretty atmospherics and ethereal stomp of English post-punk icons like Echo & the Bunnymen and the Chameleons. Cerulean is the brainchild of two high-school friends, Rick Bolander (vocals, guitar) and Mike McCabe (drums). Separated for five years, the two ended up meeting again while visiting family in New York. They got together in Los Angeles and started writing songs, working on them for a year until they met producer John Chamberlin. The duo then spent six months recording their debut album, Skylight, released in January 1999. Adding bassist Roger Marinelli, the group penetrated the L.A. club circuit and were invited to perform at the North by Northwest music festival in Portland, OR. However, Marinelli left the band not long thereafter, leaving Cerulean in limbo land until the group emerged again in 2001, this time with a second guitarist, Noel Kelly, and a new studio bassist, Will Bongiovanni. The revised lineup recorded Brighter/Still. In 2004, Cerulean released the EP Fractions, receiving praise from critics for its sublime pop.