Tag Archives: Mexico

Mexico Projekt Fest

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.

Upcoming release and performance

This is Ryan again with a little update of what’s going on with us. Our first new music to be released in over a year and a half will be the cd-single Sideways Forest. It is a three songs disc: “Sideways Forest” (the mix that will be on our new album), a trippy groovy remix/re-worked mix of “Sideways Forest” and “Amarillo” — which will not be on the new album. This is set to come out in late June or early July. Our new full length album (still not titled) will follow in September.

We are looking forward to our next live performance at the Projekt Festival at which we’ll be playing two or three new songs in our still all-acoustic set. This will be our first show in Chicago, which was skipped between our West Coast and East Coast tours last year. It should be a lot of fun and please come see us (along with Lycia, lovesliescrushing, and Thanatos on our night) if you are from the area, since we have no plans to be playing there again anytime soon.

Also, if anybody read the Projekt news on the Projekt web, Sam commented on how he thought I wanted to move to Mexico City, as a few people have asked me about. No, I do not want to move there (and no, we were not treated like big rock stars as Sam described). I did say to him that I would like to make more visits there, in the spirit of my Beat heroes like Kerouac, which I plan to do this summer after the Chicago show for a few weeks and visit friends and eat non-stop.

THE NATIONAL, Thurs, February 29, 1996


Music for the end of the millennium

By XAVIER QUIRARTE

Suzanne Perry and Ryan Lum are in music first and foremost for the pleasure of creating sounds, for the freedom to taste their art without any kind of commitment. Love Spirals Downwards, a joint project that began in the early nineties, has crystallized to date on two albums, Idylls and Ardor, published by the independent American company Projekt.

There have been some of the adjectives that his work has deserved:  “Millennium”, “Angelical.”

Continue reading THE NATIONAL, Thurs, February 29, 1996

The News, Vol XLVI NO. 232, Feb 29. 1996

U.S. Avante Garde Duo To Play D.F.

By Jose Fernandez Ramos, The News Staff Reporter

Love Spirals Downwards is one of those alternative bands whose music tends to attract a cult following.

What has happened to this Los Angeles duo, featuring Suzanne Perry (vocals) and Ryan Lum (guitars, electronics), is interesting and sometimes funny.

“One time a magazine requested an interview thinking that we would have a lot to say about LSD, because of the band’s name.” Perry says. “When they found out we have never tried it they lost interest.”

Although many fans attribute the duo’s music with spiritual, mystic and even healing powers, and critics have labelled their work with adjectives as diverse as “dark ethereal,” “gothic,””dream pop,” “angelic,” “Avant Garde,” “ambient,” etc., this young duo put things very simply.

“We just compose music without any specific intention,”Lum says.

The couple talked to The News Wednesday at Museo del Chopo, the gothic museum where the band’s only show in Mexico will take place Thursday.

“We don’t consider ourselves typical musicians, so we don’t think and act as typical musicians.” Perry says. “Many people think music is something more than music, like money, fame, clubs, the industry. But we just like what we do, the way we do it.” 

Love Spirals Downwards will share the space with Mexican duo La Divina Comedia (also a couple), which produces music very much in Spirals’ style.

The staples of the duo’s music are guitar lines distorted through electronic equipment for effects that often sound more like a synthesizer or keyboard. This surreol audio backdrop is complimented by Perry’s extraordinary soprano voice which has been honed to a finely funed instrument. However there is enough freedom and space for experimentation. 

“We try to add new elements, sounds, and instruments every time,” Lum says.

With two succesful albums out — ”Idylls”(1992) and “Ardor” (1995)– through Projekt Records, and pieces on several compilation albums, the band is already working on the recording of a third work. Some of those new compositions will be premiered at the concert. 

With its towering spires and stained glass, the Museo Del El Chopo seems a perfect atmosphere for such a performance. 

“This is such a beautiful place, it makes me want to sing here by myself at night. I hope the birds sing here at night as well,” Perry said. 

Music videos of similar vanguard styles will be shown before the live performance, and special stage and lighting designs will also form a part of the event, according to organizers.

 “This is a cultural and aethetic event more than a show business thing,” organizer Arturo Saucedo said, “This is not money making or party time. We want to create a movement and an audience for this kind of show.”

Love Spirals Downwards know that they can become as big as any commercial mainstream band, “if we change our style,” they say. But they are not interested, claiming “we don’t do it for the money.” Their recording studio is at home, in the bedroom, where most of the composition also takes place.

Outside of a cult fan movement, irrespective of the labels placed on it, the music of Love Spirals Downwards is worth listening.