Love Spirals Downwards’ 1996 album is an intriguing blend of acoustic folk-tinged rock and dubby electronica sounds. The sensually ambient “Madras” was selected for the iTunes Essentials Shoegaze & Beyond playlist alongside legendary bands Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Jesus and Mary Chain, Lush and more.

For the newly expanded reissue Ryan returned to his master DAT tapes and re-mastered each track individually to ensure the finest fidelity possible. His aim was to remain true to the original 1996 release, while subtly sweetening the overall sound spectrum. This 2020 digital release offers a greater fullness than the old CD, with a richer low end, less muddy midrange, and a sweet airiness in the highs.

“This is exactly how I wish ‘Ever’ could have been mastered in 1996,” Ryan proclaims. “Budgetary constraints and the fact that digital audio workstations were virtually non-existent back then are why the original mastering is a bit lackluster in comparison to what I can achieve now. This is the way ‘Ever’ was meant to be experienced!”

Eleven additional tracks have been added to Bandcamp release, including 3 cover songs that are not available on the other digital audio services. Both versions of this reissue however, feature 3 previously unreleased instrumentals, a super rare vocal electronica song called “Echoes,” plus a live radio performance of the haunting “Above the Lone,” an acoustic mix of “Sideways Forest,” and the popular b-side, “Amarillo.”

Ever is an achingly beautiful, enchanting maelstrom of emotion that fuses honey-dripped vocals, delicate guitars and electronic backdrops of sedate, swirling synthesizers, effectively capturing what Halstead and Goswell missed in their transition. Slow, somber, and beautiful beyond reason, this LSD just might be the burgeoning leader of another full-on ethereal rock revival. – M. Tye Comer for College Music Journal