Mean Streets So Cal, March 1998, Volume VIII – Issue 9
PROJEKT FESTIVAL: One of the most dramatic and beautiful nights of music awaits you…
By Ned Raggett
About 2000 years ago. plus a few, the Ides of March proved to not be a pretty good day. At least for a balding fellow named Julius Caesar. However, that was Rome and two millennia away, not Los Angeles and the middle of this March.
At the El Rey Theatre on Sunday, March 15, the third Projekt Festival will be hosted for many an appreciative fan, likely providing one of the most dramatic and beautiful nights of music for years. Organized by Projekt main man Sam Rosenthal, the festival, previously held in the in the label’s headquarter city of Chicago, will feature two of Projekt’s flagship bands— Los Angeles’ own Love Spirals Downwards and Rosenthal’s group Black Tape for a Blue Girl — and Santa Barbara’s faith and the Muse (who though not on Projekt are closely associated with the label via Darkwave distribution). Tickets can currentIy be purchased via Los Angeles at Retail Slut on Melrose, in Orange County at Ipso Facto in Fullerton, and through Projekt at 1-800 CD-LASER. All very well, you say, but why should you care?
Simply put, quality, combined with a driving desire to steer away from an easy and obvious norm. Projekt has evolved throughout the 90s as the closest possible equivalent to the 80s glory days of England’s 4AD label — a record business dedicated not to the commercial quick kill but to an overall aesthetic of lush beauty in appearance and sound, shaded throughout with the dark emotional touches too easily summed up and dismissed as “goth.” While it’s no secret that Projekt and associated bands have been far too often seen as a goth label — Rosenthal has jokingly referred to himself as a crazy uncle of goth — in response to such charges in the past, while Faith and the Muse’s William Faith wears white make-up and haystacked black hair like a pro — the three bands featured each have their own specific style and much to offer to the open-minded listener willing to put aside clichéd descriptions in favor of the actual music itself.
The Los Angeles show that I referred to earlier, as some of you may have figured out, is the Los Angeles Projekt Festival at the El Rey Theater on March 15. Check Projekt’s Live Page for the latest info and details. I haven’t mentioned it here until now because the details of the show were constantly changing. The original idea for the show was supposed to be just us and labelmates, Thanatos. Now Thanatos is not playing and the show has become the “L.A. Projekt Festival.” Some of you know that Suzanne and I are not exactly blissful about festival shows, so this will be our last festival performance and your last opportunity to see us at one. Later in the year we plan to get back to doing our own shows again when we do some touring.
Dewdrops Records included our song “Delta” on their new 2-CD set, Splashed With Many A Speck, released this past December. The various artist compilation also features our friends Closedown, Faith & Disease, The Von Trapps, Lovesliescrushing, and many more, including Cocteau Twins. The Closedown track, “Bumblebee,” was actually mixed here at our home studio by me.
They say that every style has a limited life, from its prosperous origins to decline. There is, however, a current that has been in force for quite a few years and that has not declined at all: the heavenly voices. What began in the 80s with 4AD and continued with Hyperium now starsProjekt, a very successful American label that treasures some of the best ethereal music bands, such as LOVE SPIRALS DOWNWARDS, a Los Angeles duo formed by guitarist Ryan Lum and vocalist Suzanne Perry. In 1992 he made his debut with ‘Idylls,’ followed by ‘Ardor’ and his great and last work, ‘Ever.’
By Sonia Garcia
SUD: What is the meaning of the band name?
Ryan: Love Spirals Downwards? Does it have something to do with the acronyms that are formed with the initials, that is, the psychedelic LSD, and the effect that your music can cause?
Ryan: It’s just a name, we had to call ourselves somehow: it doesn’t mean anything.
SUD: Do you think drugs provide us with a new vision of the world around us?
Ryan: Yes, although it has nothing to do with the name of the band.
SUD: What is really more important: the lyrics themselves or the sound it has?
Ryan: I don’t really see the difference. What matters is the final result of the song.
SUD: Why are the lyrics of the songs never included on the CDs? Are they a secondary aspect of your music?
Ryan: In fact, there is not much to read in our lyrics.
SUD: What is the music scene in Los Angeles like? Could you name a band and the reason for their notability?
Ryan: Good bands in Los Angeles? I don’t know many. Let’s say the VON TRAPPS, formerly known as ELYSIUM.
SUD: Why do you often use Spanish words like “Amarillo,” “Ardor”, “El Pedregal”…? Have you thought about making a song entirely in Spanish?
Ryan: I think we did one some time ago, but I don’t remember. If not, maybe there will be some in the next album.
SUD: What can you tell us about your large Mexican audience? Are they more receptive than Americans?
Ryan: In general, I prefer the Mexican audience, because they have a warmth that is foreign to the American public, although in America we have also done great concerts, if we except the last ones.
SUD: What kind of problems did you have at the last Projekt Festival in Chicago?
Ryan: The conflict arose because at least half of the people who came to party, show off their cloaks and fangs, and make new Gothic friends, in any case not for the music.
SUD: Do you mean that the Goths are more concerned with socializing among themselves?What about music?
Ryan: In general, yes, they only care about themselves, and not about the groups.
SUD: How is your relationship with Projekt and with Sam Rosenthal in particular?
Ryan: We’re doing well. We haven’t seen each other much lately, but we’re still friends.
SUD: Is the acoustic guitar the ideal complement to Suzanne’s voice and vice versa?
Ryan: The two things work together, it’s not a simple combination.
SUD: What do trip hop and drum & bass suggest? Are they styles that influence you?
Ryan: Yes, much more than all those trends that people usually compare us to.
SUD: You can’t complain about the success you’ve had in America, but can you say the same about the treatment of the European press throughout your career?
Ryan: I don’t know. I don’t worry about everything the press says about us. I guess the deal has been favorable.
SUD: Does it bother you that you are included in the Heavenly Voices genre?
Ryan: It’s not a comparison that excites me, but it doesn’t bother me either. In any case, it is always better than being called a gothic band.
SUD: How important have COCTEAU TWINS been for you? What are the similarities and differences between them and you?
Ryan: I like them, but I’m also interested in at least a hundred other groups. I never know what to say when they ask me this.
SUD: How do you explain the journey from the shadows of “Idylls” to the clarity of “Ever”? Have you evolved yourself in the same way?
Ryan: I would describe Idylls, as dark; for me it’s something more than an album that sounds hippie. Indeed, we have changed since 1991… it would be good if it hadn’t been like that!
SUD: Do you want to say something to the readers?
Ryan: Thank you for listening to us. Stay tuned for our new album next year.We hope you like it.
(This was a translation of the original article below)
It’s a beautiful name, Love Spirals Downwards. It calls up so many wonderful images, but the name would mean little if the band wasn’t so good as well. With Ryan Lum on guitars and other instruments and Suzanne Perry on vocals, LSD have created three excellent albums for Projekt Records over the past few years. The most recent, Ever, is quite something; a wonderful wash of Lum’s layered, exquisite acoustic and electric guitar work and Perry’s truly angelic vocals.LSD played an acoustic set on KUCI on Friday, November 15, after which they sat down for a talk about many and varied things — and during which they proved to have, as a duo, one of the best repartees around!
Ned: Ryan has mentioned elsewhere that he was trying to experiment more with electronics on this album. As the singer, what do you try to do on the new album that was different from the past?
Suzanne: I don’t know if ever try and aim for anything, I just see what comes out. The only aim is to do something different — or at least feels different. I don’t necessarily make something different, or consciously try to be different… I don’t know if this makes sense?
Ned: I’ve heard stranger explanations!
Ryan: I lost her!
Ned: Well, here’s another question for you, Suzanne…
Suzanne: Ask me a simple one, ‘cause I’m really stupid!
Ned: A simple one it is. Who are your influences, singing or lyrically?
We recently got back from another wonderful time in Mexico. After just dealing with a less than ideal audience in Chicago, the Mexico City audience’s enthusiasm for us, Lycia, and Arcanta was rewarded by great performances from us all (I’d say we all performed much better than in Chicago). The show was one of our best to date, with or without the electricity (those of you who were there know what I mean). The U.S. Projekt Fest audience could learn a few lessons from the Mexican audience, who really seemed to be there for the MUSIC rather than socializing.
After the show, Suzanne and I traveled to Cancun, on the Yucatan, for some relaxation and exploring. The highlight was visiting the pyramids and Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza.
Again, we had a great time in Mexico and look forward to the next time.
Currently, we are hard at work on a new album. It’s coming together very nicely and I expect to be finished this Spring for a Summer release. If you’ve been to any of our shows this year, then you’ve heard some of the new songs, and can probably figure the direction it’s heading.
Also, and this is still very tentative, we may be doing a big Los Angeles show in March. I’ll post more information later.
A huge feature on the Chicago ProjektFest is featured in Epherma, packed with photos from this multi-day event.
Love Spirals Downward usually plays a mellower type of acoustic rock, most easily compared to the Cranes or bands of a like nature. Tonight they would debut a new style that sees more of an electronic feel. Suzanne admitted to a bout of nervousness, that preceded this appearance, and related a story about an X-files monster (the Chupacabra??) and how it’s name could be said to the beat of one of their songs. It was really quite refreshing to see a band get off their high horse and actually be friendly and personable to the audience. You felt like they were performing for you in their living room. It was nice and intimate. Except for a few NOISY people who talked all through the set it was good. The electronic songs brought up comparisons of Portishead or Lamb and still sounded a bit rough around the edges, but eventually those gave way to the acoustic guitar style that most are used to hearing form these two. What can you say, it’s sheer beauty to hear Suzanne’s voice pierce the still air. There is nothing more honest and breathtaking. They wrapped up with another electronic bit. All in all I could say that it was a very surreal performance. You would have these very beautiful songs juxtaposed with anecdotes and silly songs about a “pickleman.” It wasn’t as jarring as, say, Rasputina’s commentary but it was equally bizarre. I liked it a lot. No one should miss the opportunity to see these guys. No one.
I would like to say thanks to everyone that came to see us at the Projekt Festival (and at our Border’s in-store) in Chicago. Suzanne and I had a fun time once again. For those of you who were trying to enjoy our set, I am sorry about all the rude loud motherfuckers that talked during our set and the sets of all the more quiet bands. Those people obviously did not come for the music and ruin it for those who did. If there is another festival next year, I hope to have a solution worked out with Projekt and the venue for dealing with such situations. Anyway, we’re just a fews days from the Projekt Festival Mexico, in Mexico City, with Lycia and Arcanta! I should probably go pack.
Love Spirals Downwards performing at the Vic Theatre in Chicago Friday August 1, 1997
The duo of Ryan Lum and Suzanne Perry had no clear musical ambition —or even a band name— when they contacted Projekt Records. They jokingly called themselves as “The Flower People.” The response to their first full length CD ‘Idylls’ was no joke. At that time Projekt was run out of Sam’s house with a fairly small advertising budget. Nonetheless the band sold over 10,000 copies. Two years later the bands sophomore effort ‘Ardor’ again sold over 10,000 copies– this time taking far less time to do so.
Eschewing comparisons to “shoegazer” and “gothic” acts, Love Spirals Downwards have crafted a following that transcends genre and even generational “pigeon holes.” The label has received enthusiastic fan letters from teeny boppers and sitting Circuit Court Judges.The band has gradually evolved over the past five years. ‘Idylls’ dreamy aura, layered acoustic guitars and electronic was taken in an ever so slightly darker direction on ‘Ardor.’ The band’s third release ‘Ever’ combines elements of their acoustic live show with Ryan’s trance ambient influences. Currently a remix single for “Madras,” off the ‘Ever’ CD is in the works.
Ryan: Well, I don’t remember it being that overwhelming of a response. But I suppose that many people that had an initial liking to our music was because our songs are pretty songs, which is something a bit rare in music today
Pat: Don’t you think a good deal of the other artists on Projekt make “pretty” music? I can tell you that there was a pretty big reaction to your songs on that compilation…
Ryan: Sure, most of the rest of the Projekt artist make music that is pretty. But I think that we are the only one’s whose main aesthetic is in making a pretty and otherworldly sort of sound. Most of the others have something else going on in their music as well, more self-expressionistic things. I’m not saying that makes us better or worse than the others, but I think it makes our music stand out a bit, we have a quality that is distinct.
