Flare Acoustic Arts League
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 in New York, United States |
| Founder | Damian Costilla, LD Beghtol |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | New York , United States |
| Products | Avant-garde pop music |
Flare Acoustic Arts League, also known simply as Flare (band), was an avant-garde pop ensemble initiated by guitarist Damian Costilla and vocalist LD Beghtol in New York in 1996. Their music featured intense, moody, and atmospheric compositions, drawing inspiration from artists such as The Smiths, The Magnetic Fields (with whom Beghtol collaborated), Love, several acts under the 4AD label, and The Velvet Underground. Originally conceived as a modest chamber group that supplemented Costilla's guitar with various instrumentalists, Costilla departed soon after the release of their debut album, Bottom (Tamper Evident, 1997). Following this, Beghtol sustained the project under the Flare moniker until 2001, at which point he renamed it Flare Acoustic Arts League.
As the lead songwriter and musical director, Beghtol broadened the band's sonic palette from ethereal minimalism to expansive orchestral textures incorporating horns, strings, manipulated guitars, and noise loops combined with elaborate melodies and obscure lyrical themes. The group's concluding release was the double EP Big Top/Encore (Affairs of the Heart, 2011), which included original tracks alongside covers such as the Psychedelic Furs' "Yes I Do" and "Morgantown" by Brooklyn artist Dorsey. Flare disbanded in 2012 after completing their sole tour across Germany and Austria.
Selected discography
CDs
- Cut, (Affairs of the Heart, 2009)
- Hung, (Le Grand Magistery, 2003)
- Bottom, (Tamper Evident, 1997)
EPs
- Big Top/Encore, double EP/CD/vinyl (Affairs of the Heart, 2011)
- Definitive, (Mother West, 2001)
- Circa, (Subliminal Violence, 2000)
Singles
- "Hands of Fire”/"Last Train to Clarksville"/“Infamous Last Words," digital single (Affairs of the Heart, 2009)
- "Back When You Wanted Me"/"Wish It Away," 7-inch vinyl (Unpopular Records, 2005)
- "Celebrate the Misery”/“Another Bridge,” 7-inch vinyl (Mother West, 2000)