Golden Gardens on No Goddamn Dancing Blog

Aubrey and Gregg of Golden Gardens were interviewed for the No Goddamn Dancing blog and were asked about the upcoming ‘Brickbat Boat’ event:

Did they have anything to do with this late-night, shoegaze/goth/ethereal-themed cruise down the Willamette River that I’ve been hearing about?

A: Nope! That was entirely organized by DJ Wednesday and DJ Curatrix, the ladies of Brickbat Mansion, a monthly shoegaze/ethereal/dreampop night in Portland. We met them when we played a show at The Lovecraft Bar (where Brickbat is hosted) in December of 2011. We’ve been good friends for a while and they regularly spin our music at their monthly night. 

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Ryan’s DJ Set at Club Violaine

Another fun night at Club Violaine. This time it was a Saint Marie Records night to launch a new release by local band, Broaddaylight. Ryan was one of several DJs that night, along with James of Broaddaylight and Mo of The Flir, plus house DJs Doomie and JuaNN. Local bands SwayThe Bixby Knolls, and Ancient Arms also performed.

Check out a few pix from the event:

Ryan’s DJ mix included an unreleased brand new Lovespirals song plus an unreleased Closedown song Ryan produced in the mid-90’s Check it all out on MixCloud:

Club Violaine Reopening Party

Club Violane, “LA’s only shoegazer & dream pop party,” recently returned after a 2 year hiatus to celebrate a visit from one of its beloved founders, DJ Wednesday. Everyone came out including Suzanne, as well as Drew Pluta (formerly of Arcanta) and Rodney Rodriguez (formerly of The Von Trapps), both of whom performed with LSD at our last concert. We also met up with Tom of Mira, whom I don’t think I’ve seen since Lovespirals toured with them in 2002.

There’s a cool video about Club Violaine reopening on YouTube:

Projekt Holiday Comp Features New Lovespirals

Check out the brand new Lovespirals recording of an original holiday song by Lovespirals vocalist/lyricist, Anji Bee, for the Projekt Records holiday music compilation, ‘Ornamental‘ — available on double CD or digital download. Love Spirals Downwards band founder, Ryan Lum, returns to his vintage Projekt-era roots with melancholic dream pop guitars and lovely female vocal harmonies. Stream it or download it from Bandcamp or check out the official upload on YouTube.

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“Little Drummer Boy” Single Now Available

It has been a dozen years since Love Spirals Downwards founder, Ryan Lum, recorded his ambient drum & bass rendition of the classic Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy,” and at long last, it is finally available for sale! Originally conceived and recorded in 1999 for the Projekt Records holiday music series, Excelsis, this recording has never been properly released. This was the last song that Suzanne Perry contributed vocals to, and it’s sound is very reminiscent of the band’s final album, ‘Flux.’ Like the 1999 Lovespirals song, “Beatitude,” it features jazzy Rhodes piano by guest musician, Gabriel D. Vine, of Monkey Bars.

Over the past decade, 2 versions of this cover song have been floating around the internet under different titles; there’s the polished aforementioned vocal version as well as an earlier demo mix which features vinyl vocal samples from a classic old-school Christmas record. This demo mix is stripped down, with more emphasis on Ryan’s funky live bassline, and less use of synth pads. Both versions are quite catchy and a fun addition to anyone’s holiday music library. Pick up the 2 track single for just $2 in the high quality digital audio format of your choice from the newly launched Lovespirals Bandcamp Store


Special Thanks to our friend, Susan Jennings, for her 1998 band photograph used as the cover art!

New Falling You Album Featuring Suzanne and Anji Out Now

The 2-time NAR Lifestyle Music Award winning musical project, Falling You, just released a new album entitled, Adore, on Magnatune. Enigmatic band founder and producer, John Michael Zorko, has long worked with a revolving cast of talented and varied female vocalists including Lovespirals Downwards own Suzanne Perry, Victoria Lloyd (of Claire Voyant and Mono Chrome), Dru Allen (of Mirabilis and This Ascension), Erica Mulkey (AKA Unwoman), and Shikhee (of Android Lust) — just to name a few.

In her first appearance with Falling You, Lovespirals’ vocalist, Anji Bee, contributes lyrics and vocals to the ambient opening track, “Blessed,” penned about her relationship with bandmate, Ryan Lum, who engineered and recorded her vocal tracks.

Suzanne contributed lyrics and vocals to the album’s second track, “Champagne.” With its summery dream pop feel, this collaboration brings to mind her work with Melodyguild. Suzanne had previously been featured on Falling You’s 2006 album, Human, and 2008 album, Faith.

Long time friend of Love Spirals Downwards, Lovespirals, Anji Bee, and Falling You, Ken Lee (of Eleven Shadows), mixed and mastered the songs of Adore alongside John at his Blueberry Buddha Recording Studios.

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Ryan Lum on Black Tape for a Blue Girl Song

Did you know Ryan contributed guitar to the Black Tape For A Blue Girl song “Overwhelmed, Beneath Me“ released by Projekt and Hyperium Records in 1993? This song was originally recorded in 1992 with vocalist Lucian Casselman for the album ‘This Lush Garden Within,’ an album that has been reissued several times with different artwork. This recording was also featured on ‘The First Pain to Linger’ maxi CD that accompanied Sam Rosenthal’s 1996 novel of the same name.

“Overwhelmed, Beneath Me” was reworked in 2000 with then-current vocalist Elysabeth Grant. That version appears on the ‘With A Million Tear-Stained Memories’ 2-CD collection released by Trisol and Projekt in 2003 and on ‘A Retrospective’ collection released by Shadowplay in 2008 as well as by Projekt for the longer digital-only release, ‘The best of (deluxe: 2008​+​1991).’

Gothic Beauty Reviews Future Past

To our great surprise, Gothic Beauty included a review of Lovespirals’ 2010 album, Future Past, in the latest issue of their 80 page glossy color magazine. Gothic Beauty Issue 33 is available now at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Hastings, Chapters, Walden Books, Book World, Sheltam Books and Copperfield’s Books – or directly via gothicbeauty.com. Reviewer Michael writes, in part:

“This album is designed for chill atmospheres. It reminds me of late nights at the bar and a jukebox loaded with good music. The song “Rain” is not to be missed — I’ve fallen in love with the song and want to have the song’s babies.”