Lovespirals were mentioned in a recent issue of Oui Magazine, for their Oui Rocks section. Devil Doll gives a brief update of the band in her “Oh My Goth” column, alongside The Empire Hideous and Virgin Black. A band portrait by Susan Jennings is included.
LOVESPIRALS (formerly Love Spirals Downwards) songwriter/producer, Ryan Lum and singer/songwriter, Anji Bee, are currently preparing for the release of their first full-length album, tentatively titled ‘Oh So Long,’ due out in May 2002. Ryan reports: “There’s lots of little surprises in our sound this time around, including a wonderful guest appearance by Sean Bowley (of Eden) on 2 tracks. As I have recently rediscovered my love of guitar, this album is really based around beautiful melodies on both acoustic and electric guitar, as well as Anji’s gorgeous, versatile vocals. We’ve had a lot of fun working on our first album together and hope that love shines through to our fans!”
At your request, we’ve released that vintage LSD live material as a DAM CD on mp3.com. The 9 songs included are from the Idylls through Ever period, all performed acoustically by Suzanne and I. Just to let you know, a DAM CD is not the same quality as a regular CD, as they use MP3s for the audio files. DAM CDs include both the source mp3 (for play on your computer or mp3 player) and an audio file version (which can be played on your CD player), as well as text and graphic files which you can view on your computer. This is basically an LSD collector’s item, with better sound than a bootleg cassette and a few more fun extras! For more info, and to hear sample audio, visit the LSD page on mp3.com at mp3.com/lovespiralsdown
I’m still going to look into having Projekt release it officially, because I’d really rather the audio not be split up in between songs, and because real CD quality is far superior to the DAM technology. So I guess this DAM could be a limited time only offer, depending on what happens. We’ll keep you posted!
Yes, it’s the REAL new Millennium and certainly a time for change. We’ll be updating our mp3.com page with many new songs — perhaps even the “Live Album” material. We plan to add a new audio page on this site with RealAudio and QuickTime files from every LSD album sometime in the near future. Later in the year, the whole site will be redesigned. Hopefully we’ll find a new way to host our e-store, which is closed for the time being. You might check for occasional sales of Love Spirals Downwards related merchanside on E-Bay, as Anji just auctioned off a copy of “50 Years of Sunshine,” and may be offering other such items from time to time.
Because we love you fans so much, we’ve got a special gift for you all — free music! Once again, we are making our unreleased Excelsis song, “The Little Drummer Boy,” available to you as a free mp3 download. Just head on over to the band’s e-store to check it out. And be sure to check out our big closeout sale while you’re there, as well.
I’ll be DJ’ing in Long Beach, California on Thursday September 16th from 9 to 10:30 pm at the mellow coffeehouse club, Dervish. Dervish runs 7 PM to midnight at Portfolio, 2300 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA. 562-434-2486. Resident DJs Glenn Bach and Chowderhead, along with guest DJs and musicians, perform a wide variety of electronic and analog music, including ambient, dub, drone, downtempo, IDM, drum-and-bass, and free jazz. Visual artists provide a spatial environment of video, projections, and loops.
Saturday, August 12th: DJ Ryan Lum spins a late-night/early-morning set in the chillout room of the Family 6th Year Anniversary Party in Los Angeles. For more info, please call (213) 891-4756 or (818) 503-7535.
We just added another unreleased new track, called “Hand in Hand,” to our mp3.com page. This is the flip side of the “Ecstatic” dubplate that I’ve been including in my recent DJ sets. Once again, it features the sax of Doron and vocals of Anji, and is even more jazzy than “Ecstatic.” If you enjoyed “Misunderstood,” from Temporal, you’re bound to dig this track, too!
We just launched a band page on MP3.com. Included is a new unreleased song, “Ecstatic,” which features recent collaborators Doron Orenstein (saxophone) and Anji Bee (vocals). Go to mp3.com/lovespirals to listen to our FREE streaming and downloadable MP3s.
In other news, Love Spirals Downwards have been included on another new compilation CD, the Side-Line Magazine presentation of Diva X Machina 3, on Cop International — along with Diamanda Galas, Danielle Dax, Gitane Demone and many other female fronted bands. The song included is my remix of “Alicia” from Temporal. Buy Diva X Machine 3 on Amazon.
Our 50 Years of Sunshine exclusive mix of “Kykeon” is featured on Projekt100, a new various artist compilation created to celebrats the early era of the label from 1985 to 1995.
Projekt100: The Early Years (1985-1995)
Reaching the milestone of its 100th release, Projekt celebrated in a special way. Harkening back to the time when catalog number “PRO-100” seemed a hundred years away, Rosenthal explains his motivation for this compilation: “In planning Projekt100, I tried to recreate an era. A time gone by. A time when Projekt was young and our artists were widely unknown. Rather than put together a predictable ‘best of’ to commemorate Projekt’s 100th release, I created The Great Lost Projekt Compilation. A reflection upon an era gone by, for those fans who have been with Projekt since the early days . . . or an introduction to bands perhaps missed, if a new-comer.”
Included are never before heard tracks from Projekt’s first two acts: Lycia and black tape for a blue girl; as well as unreleased mixes from Attrition, Eden, Lovesliescrushing, and SoulWhirlingSomewhere; early mixes from Thanatos and Terrace of Memories; an unreleased track from O Yuki Conjugate; and a rare mix from Love Spirals Downwards.
I will be interviewed live on Outsight Cyber Radio Sunday, June 25th, 8pm EST/5pm PST. Please tune in via the internet at his site. Tom will be archiving the interview as a RealAudio file, for those of you who can’t tune in live, so check his site for that!
We’ve been included on several compilation CDs recently released, including:
Claire Voyant – Time Again (Accession Records): a remix project CD including Front 242, Haujobb, Trance to the Sun, VNV Nation and many others. Anji and I remixed their track “Bittersweet” in a jazzy, atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass style, featuring sax by our pal, Doron, of Toof. More details at Accession.
Heartbeats (Mascara): this cool German comp focuses on electronica acts with “tender feelings” such as Moby, Sneaker Pimps, Smith & Mighty, Marc Almond, Nightmares on Wax and more. Flux’s “Psyche,” featuring Kristen Perry on vocals, is the chosen LSD cut.
Projekt 100: The Early Years, 1985 to 1995 (Projekt Records): this is a compilation of vintage Projekt band recordings, in celebration of their 100th release. The Love Spirals Downwards track is the 50 Years of Sunshine mix of “Kykeon.” More details are available from Projekt.
Darkwave: Music of the Shadows v2 (K-Tel): Projekt Records founder, Sam Rosenthal, helped to compile this collection of darkwave-related bands such as: Cocteau Twins, Lycia, Miranda Sex Garden and more. “Forgo,” from Love Spirals Downwards’ debut album, Idylls, is the first track of the album. More details are available from Projekt.
Still spinning on a regular basis, I have upcoming slots where you can catch me, dropping atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass and downtempo tunes…
La Belle Epoque: May 13th, San Francisco at The Top DJ Bar, 424 Haight St. (between Webster and Fillmore, 21 and over, $5). I’ll be on from 10pm to midnight. This club is the West Coast mecca for atmospheric drum and bass. I had a most incredible time DJ’ing there last year, and this time will be even better as I look forward to playing some acetates of new unreleased Lovespirals material.
Caffeinated: May 20th, Santa Barbara. Held by the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts forum, 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA. This multi-media party and art opening goes from 8pm – 2 am, is $10 admission, and open to all ages. Call (805) 966-5373 for more info or visit their site.
Ethereal Shoegaze and Electronica from Projekt Records
