A Fresh Start For Suzanne Perry
By 1999, Suzanne Perry had parted ways with Ryan Lum. Following two appearances and a handful of interviews in support of Love Spirals Downwards‘ 1998 album Flux, Perry stepped away from the music scene. Lum produced the retrospective album, Temporal: A Collection of Music Past & Present, released by Projekt in January 2000 and then moved forward with Lovespirals, but Perry’s fans were left wondering when—or if—she would return.
Then, in 2002, Perry quietly re-emerged with whispers of a new project—Melodyguild. However, just as quickly as they surfaced, they vanished. What happened to Aitu, and why did it take four years to see the light of day?
A Band Rooted in LA’s Dream Pop Scene
The formation of Melodyguild was deeply intertwined with Los Angeles’ shoegaze scene and its tight-knit network of musicians. Several band members had been part of The Von Trapps, an indie dream pop group known for their textured guitar work and moody atmospheres:
- Nicholas Pallos (Drums/Synthesizer/Guitar): Pallos, formerly of The Battle of Lake Erie, brought a multi-instrumental sensibility and subtle rhythmic touches that helped bridge the gap between Melodyguild’s indie pop and shoegaze influences.
- Matt Gleason (Guitar): Formerly the drummer for The Von Trapps, Gleason switched to guitar for Melodyguild, lending shimmering, Slowdive-style textures to the band’s sound.
- John West (Bass) – Formerly the bassist of Elysium and The Von Trapps, although he was known to play guitar, as well. West was part of the original Melodyguild lineup, and is credited on Aitu.
- Rodney Rodriguez (Bass): Rodriguez had played guitar on the song “Alicia” from Love Spirals Downwards’ 1998 Flux album and performed live with the band at Projekt Festival ‘98. He was guitarist for both Elysium and The Von Trapps before taking West’s place in Melodyguild as bassist in 2003, apparently after Aitu was recorded as he is not credited.
- Cris Miller (Guitar/Keyboards): Known for his solo project Silver Screen, Miller was brought in to round out Melodyguild’s lineup in 2004, adding production expertise and delicate melodic flourishes. Though Miller was not featured on Aitu, he led the band’s holiday cover of “Sally’s Song.”
Together, the band balanced Perry’s ethereal vocals with layered instrumentation, creating a lush yet grounded sound evoking elements of The Sundays, The Autumns, and Cocteau Twins.
Defining Their Sound: Shoegaze, Indie Rock & Dream Pop
Melodyguild often described their music as a blend of “shoegaze,” “indie rock,” and “dream pop.” In a 2004 interview with Gothic Beauty, Pallos stressed the band’s independent nature:
“We’re pretty much self-produced. We knew and know kind of how we want it to sound, and we enjoy being able to do it ourselves and have control over the final product.”
Perry elaborated on her musical intentions:
“It’s a totally natural creative drive for me to do it. I do it completely on the side of everything else I do in life, but I feel like it’s something I ‘have’ to do. Money and attention aren’t really a focus for me or I would go about it differently. If I ever compromised that I don’t think it would be as good or enjoyable. I never labor over my lyrics. I just let whatever I do come out naturally. I never try to sound any other way than how I sound, I simply do it.”
Live Performances and Early Buzz (2003-2004)
Melodyguild’s first major public appearance came in January 2003 at Club Violaine, an iconic Los Angeles venue known for showcasing shoegaze, ethereal, and indie acts. Sharing the stage with Bethany Curve, the band made an impression on local fans and DJs alike.
In March 2003, Melodyguild returned to Club Violaine, performing alongside The Arrogants for another buzzed-about show. To promote the event, they made their radio debut on Generation Death with Club Violaine founder, DJ Wednesday, on KSPC 88.7 FM. The band premiered their first recorded song, giving fans a glimpse of their forthcoming material.
In late 2004, Perry and Pallos sat down for an interview with Gothic Beauty magazine, discussing their creative process, the newly recorded EP, and even teasing plans for a full-length album. They also revealed their contribution to Projekt’s Holiday Single 2 compilation: a haunting cover of Danny Elfman’s “Sally’s Song.” Recorded with Miller and Pallos, the track showcased Perry’s delicate, melancholy vocal delivery.
Perry confided to Gothic Beauty:
“This is a song I’ve wanted to do for a long time, “Sally’s Song” from The Nightmare Before Christmas. It came out really well. I think anybody who enjoyed the film will be really pleased with our version. It’s not a very long song, but I think people will be pleasantly surprised.”
A Sudden Disappearance: What Happened to Aitu?
Anticipation for Melodyguild’s debut EP was steadily building, with Aitu officially listed on Projekt’s ‘Upcoming Releases’ page. But then—silence. The band’s website disappeared, no new music surfaced, and the band was nowhere to be found. Fans were left wondering: Had Melodyguild disbanded? Had Aitu been shelved indefinitely?
Behind the scenes, it seems that Melodyguild had quietly disbanded. In 2006, Gleason and Rodriguez moved on to form a new band, Life Underwater, alongside vocalist/keyboardist Laura Derby and drummer Anna McEntee. Meanwhile, Perry collaborated with ambient artist Falling You on several tracks in 2006 and 2008—including And The Rain Comes In Waves, which featured Rodriguez on bass and guitar.
Miller continued his solo work as Silver Screen, releasing When You Don’t See Me in late 2007. Pallos stepped away from music, shifting his focus to film, where he wrote and directed the short Neither Here Nor There: The Waiting Room and co-wrote the sci-fi thriller Shadowplay, both in 2007.
Then, as if emerging from the mist, Aitu finally saw the light of day in June 2008—four years after the band had faded from the scene. To celebrate the long-awaited release, Melodyguild briefly reunited for a record release party at Club Violaine, returning to the very venue where their journey had begun.
Aitu: Track-by-Track Overview
“Panamint”: The EP’s opener sets the tone with shimmering guitars, understated percussion, and Perry’s wistful vocals. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and nostalgia: “I’m awake over you / Long for the nights when I’m with you.” The song’s gradual build culminates in a dramatic guitar break, echoing Slowdive’s best moments.
“‘Panamint’ was featured on Projekt 2007.1 and The Projekt 2009 Sampler, two budget compilations from Projekt’s long-running series.
“Accomplice”: With its upbeat melody and candid lyrics, “Accomplice” contrasts sharply with the opener. Perry’s biting lines—“Good thing I planned to hate you anyway”—add a touch of defiance to this jangly, Sundays-esque track.
“Flicker”: The third track drifts into melancholic dream pop, blending deep basslines with delicate guitar work. The lyrics explore themes of memory and time: “Captured as a frame / A flicker on your wall.” Gleason’s guitar work stands out here, shifting between clean arpeggios and light distortion.
“Un Parallel”: Closing the EP, “Un Parallel” is its most ambitious and emotionally charged track. The song’s languid verses build to a chaotic crescendo, with screeching guitars and crashing drums underscoring the tension in Perry’s lyrics: “You always said we were un parallel / Too far apart, too far apart.”
Pallos described “Un Parallel” in Gothic Beauty as:
“A study of dynamics. We wanted a song that wasn’t on ’10’ or ‘1’ volume-wise the whole time. In terms of music, we wanted a longer-than-your-average-pop-song piece that would be very fluid and changing as it went along.”
Critical and Fan Reception
Critics and fans alike greeted Aitu as a stunning comeback. The EP quickly climbed to #6 on the Projekt Top 10, a testament to the enduring allure of Perry’s voice and the curiosity surrounding her musical return.
AllMusic Guide (Ned Raggett): “Aitu captures a full-band performance, a subtle but clear change from Perry’s duo work in the past. The cascading guitars, moody bass, and Slowdive-style moments ensure the EP’s atmospheric appeal.“
Liar Society: “Melodyguild is at its best on the epic-length ‘Un Parallel,’ a song that builds from dying embers back into a full blaze. Perry’s vocals remain the common thread, making Aitu worth the wait for Love Spirals Downwards fans.”
Heathen Harvest: “Pure shoegazer sound. Melodyguild shifts between clean arpeggios, distorted notes, and sweet melodies, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of The Cure’s Disintegration and lighter My Bloody Valentine moments.“
Amazon reviewers shared similar sentiments:
“It’s such a joy to hear Suzanne Perry’s lustrous voice once more… Melodyguild is a full-fledged band, not merely a vehicle for Suzanne’s sublime vocals.” — Tim Lukeman
“One of the selling points of Aitu is that it showcases Suzanne Perry’s luminous vocals. But what also needs to be brought to the forefront is a four-song release of well-structured, interesting songs with just enough noise for the shoegaze fanatics.” — Jennifer Griggs
Rediscovery and Revival: Aitu Finds a New Audience
In early 2021, Projekt reissued Aitu on their Bandcamp page, accompanied by a reflection from label owner Sam Rosenthal:
“A DJ in Los Angeles recently mentioned to me how much he loves this EP from Suzanne Perry. Hard to believe it’s been 12+ years since I released it on Projekt… Aitu is a lovely shoegazer portent of a band that was never to be.”
The reissue made the EP available on streaming services, though it was erroneously listed under the Love Spirals Downwards name with the title Suzanne Perry’s Melodyguild: Aitu. Despite the confusion, the release introduced Melodyguild to a new generation of listeners—proving that even a brief, fleeting project can leave an enduring impression.
The 2024 review by Drowning in Melancholy captured the EP’s enduring impact:
“Melodyguild may be like a shooting star that flashed for a moment and then disappeared… but I hope it will continue to remain in the memories of many people in the future.”
A Beautiful But Fleeting Moment
Despite the promise of Aitu, Melodyguild’s story ended almost as quickly as it began. The band never recorded a full-length follow-up, and over time, its members drifted into other projects and pursuits.
While Perry never formed another band, she remained engaged with music through select collaborations. In 2010, she lent her voice to the Sleepthief song, “Empyrean,” for the compilation Beauty 2: Music That Touches the Soul. The song later appeared on the expanded 2015 edition of Labyrinthine Heart.
In 2011, Perry collaborated on another song with Falling You for the album, Adore. The jangly guitar and live drum sound of ‘Champagne’—along with Perry’s pop-inflected harmonies—echo the wistful energy of Melodyguild. Her lyrics reflect a quiet longing: ‘Let me just this once / Find someone to hear the story / For me.’ Whether intentional or not, the line carries a certain weight, hinting at unfinished stories and unspoken reflections.
In 2017, Perry reunited musically with Miller on “Until the Stars Align” for Falling You’s album Shine, an album Projekt released on CD and digital format. Streaming services credit both Suzanne Perry and Love Spirals Downwards on the track, likely due to metadata tagging, though her former bandmate, Lum, was not involved.
Reflecting on the song’s creation, Perry shared with Projekt:
“As it has always been for me, it’s not been about thinking or connecting the sounds to the world as it is in these fleeting moments. But I recall thinking about the night sky. The lyrics for ‘Until the Stars Align’ were written mostly by Cris Miller.”
Miller provided backing vocals, as well, performing throughout the song as a duet.
Beyond studio recordings, Perry briefly returned to the stage in 2013, performing with Seattle dream pop band Golden Gardens at the Brickbat Mansion Boat Cruise, an event hosted by longtime friend and Club Violaine founder, DJ Wednesday.
Though their time was brief, Melodyguild provided Perry with a deeply fulfilling creative outlet. ‘For me, Melodyguild is a lovely extension of what I did with Love Spirals Downwards,’ she told Gothic Beauty. ‘I had other opportunities, but this connection with Melodyguild was the most enjoyable to me.’ In the end, Aitu remains not only a fascinating footnote in Perry’s career, but a cherished, shimmering fragment of a dream that fans still revisit.