Cerulean

Although sharing neither personnel nor any other ties with the Ocean Blue, Cerulean draws its name from that band’s second album, and its swirling dreamlike guitars might imply a connection that does not exist. Instead, the project stands as its own American discovery, one captivated by the luminous textures and otherworldly pulse of such British post-punk touchstones as Echo & the Bunnymen and the Chameleons. The outfit originated with high-school classmates Rick Bolander on vocals and guitar and Mike McCabe on drums. After five years apart, the pair reconnected during separate visits to family in New York, then reconvened in Los Angeles to begin songwriting. They spent a year developing material before encountering producer John Chamberlin, after which the two recorded their first album, Skylight, over six months for a January 1999 release. Once bassist Roger Marinelli joined, the trio entered the Los Angeles club scene and earned an invitation to the North by Northwest festival in Portland, Oregon. Marinelli departed soon afterward, however, placing the band on hold until 2001, when second guitarist Noel Kelly and studio bassist Will Bongiovanni came aboard. With this configuration Cerulean tracked Brighter/Still. The EP Fractions appeared in 2004 and drew critical acclaim for the refined pop it contained.