Temporal: A Journey Through Sonic Evolution

Love Spirals Downwards “At Both Ends and In Between”

Temporal: A Collection of Music Past & Present (2000) captured the full arc of Love Spirals Downwards’ career, showcasing their evolution from ethereal dream pop to ambient electronica, trip-hop, and drum & bass. Released by Projekt Records, the album featured 13 tracks compiled and mastered by bandleader, Ryan Lum, including rare tracks, remixes, and a live acoustic recording of “Subsequently.” Initially released on CD, the album was later added to iTunes in 2004 and made its Bandcamp debut in 2019 with three bonus tracks and high-quality digital audio.

Projekt Records’ official album PR described the album’s scope:

“Love Spirals Downwards have continued to evolve, never remaining static in one time or place. This new collection of recent and older songs is true to its title — Temporal — providing new and old fans with a glimpse of where they are and where they’ve been. Following a reverse continuum, Temporal journeys from new dance remixes from Flux, backwards to material from their very first album. At both ends and in between, Temporal is a sumptuous sound of layered guitars and lilting female vocals, rich in mood and melody.

Sonic Evolution: From Dream Pop to Drum & Bass

Love Spirals Downwards’ early releases, Idylls and Ardor, established them as leaders of Projekt’s ethereal music scene, blending the 4AD-inspired dream pop of Cocteau Twins and medieval mystery of Dead Can Dance with shoegaze, ambient, and acoustic folk elements. Jason Moore of Opus Zine described this era as follows:

“The band’s debut, Idylls, and follow-up, Ardor, evoke all that’s good and golden about the vaunted ‘4AD sound’ pioneered by Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and This Mortal Coil.”

By the time Flux (1998) was released, Ryan Lum had fully embraced breakbeats and electronica, incorporating drum & bass and trip-hop into Love Spirals Downwards’ ethereal sound. Songs like “Alicia” and “Misunderstood” represented this shift, and remixes of both tracks featured prominently on Temporal.

Tracklist Highlights

“Alicia (Remix)” – This 1999 remix of the flamenco-infused Spanish-language drum & bass track from Flux (1998) featuring Rodney Rodriguez on acoustic guitar emphasized rhythm and atmospheric pads over vocal harmonies. It appeared on the Diva X Machina 3 (2000) compilation. On the independently released Flux Deluxe Edition (2023) the song title was amended to “Alicia (Temporal Mix).”

“Misunderstood (I’ll Always Love You Remix)” – Originally from Flux (1998), this 1999 remix added saxophone by Doron Orenstein, showcasing Lum’s first experiment with jazz-step drum ‘n’ bass. Lum would later further explore this genre with Orenstein and vocalist Anji Bee on the Ecstatic EP (2001). On the Flux Deluxe Edition (2023) the song title was amended to “I’ll Always Love You (Temporal Mix).”

“Asleep” – A near-instrumental track created between Ever and Flux, originally appearing on Precipice Recordings Volume 1 (1998) compilation, Lum used a reversed sample of Perry’s voice played on a sequencer, creating a hypnotic, ambient texture. In their Temporal review, Magnet described “Asleep” as a ‘moodist masterwork.'”

“Mediterranea” – Originally released on Across This Gray Land 3 (1991), this track became a live staple and defined the band’s early 4AD-inspired sound with Perry glossolalic vocals. An acoustic version appears on the independently released Love Spirals Downwards Live (2014).

“Ladonna Dissima” – Featured on Idylls (1992), this track was later included on Beneath the Icy Floe Vol. 2 (1994). Perry’s meditative repetition of the Italian phrase ‘la donna più bellissima’ (‘the most beautiful lady’) combines with Lum’s ‘pulsating cold guitars and disjointed drum beats,’ as noted by XTROPY on Rate Your Music.

“Subsequently (Live)” – This live staple from from Ardor (1995) emphasized Perry’s emotive glossolalic vocals and Lum’s delicate acoustic guitar work. Compared to the version on Love Spirals Downwards: Live, this earlier featured a more prominent reverb effect, reflecting Lum’s evolving production techniques.

“Kykeon” – A dramatic track from Ardor, this song was a staple in the band’s live sets. Lum’s 1993 remix appeared on the legendary Silent Records compilation 50 Years of Sunshine and an Altered Mind flexi-disc included with issue 13″ –both released in 1993– as well as the later retrospective collection, Projekt 100: The Early Years, 1985 to 1995 Projekt Records (2000). An acoustic performance appears on Love Spirals Downwards Live (2014).

“Above the Lone” – This electro-acoustic track from Ever (1996) blended atmospheric guitars with electronic flourishes and became a staple in the band’s later live sets. One such performance appears on Love Spirals Downwards Live (2014), with another featured on the independently released Ever (Remastered Reissue) (2020).

Compilation and Compilation Albums

Several Temporal tracks had previously appeared on notable compilations:

  • 50 Years of Sunshine (1993) – Included a remix of “Kykeon.”
  • Beneath the Icy Floe Vol. 2 (Projekt Records, 1994) featured “Ladonna Dissima.”
  • Beneath the Icy Floe – Projekt Records Sampler (Hyperium Records, 1995) featured “This Endris Night”
  • Projekt 100: The Early Years, 1985 to 1995 Projekt Records (2000) featured a remix of “Kykeon”
  • Within This Infinite Ocean (Borders, 2001) featured “This Endris Night”
  • Projekt: The New Face of Goth (Hot Topic, 2003) featured “This Endris Night”

Projekt’s Mixed Support for Sonic Expansion

Love Spirals Downwards’ shift from ethereal dream pop to electronic styles met with mixed support from Projekt Records. In a RadioSpy interview on March 17, 2000, Ryan Lum reflected on Projekt founder Sam Rosenthal’s initial response to their new direction:

“It’s not his cup of tea. But we more or less have artistic freedom to do as we please. He thought that people were going to say that Projekt — or someone — sold out, and none of that came out. So I guess he thought it was cool. He got a little paranoid at first, but mellowed out.”

Although Projekt ultimately supported Flux despite Rosenthal’s initial hesitations, his acceptance of Love Spirals Downwards’ evolving sound had its limits. Lum’s 1999 Ecstatic EP, which sought to further explore the drum ‘n’ bass style introduced on Flux, was met with a suggestion to “cut out all the crazy drums.” That same year, a drum ‘n’ bass reimagining of “The Little Drummer Boy” recorded for Projekt’s holiday compilation series, Excelsis, was also rejected.

After turning down Lum’s proposed Love Spirals Downwards Live album, Projekt instead suggested a career retrospective, which ultimately became Temporal.

This dynamic tension between creative freedom and label expectations became a defining aspect of Love Spirals Downwards’ story.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, Temporal received glowing reviews:

Amazon.com:

“A greatest-hits disc after only four albums? Apparently, when you’re as good as Love Spirals Downwards, you can get away with it.”

Magnet Magazine:

“This retrospective succeeds on a variety of cosmic levels, with lushly crafted dreamscapes that sit proudly alongside Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance.”

URB Magazine:

“Temporal charts the band’s shift in sound, a collection which looks back through the haze… showcasing an increasingly ambient sensibility. It’s all very lovely, a nice sound to chill to after a hard night of pounding kick drums.”

Outburn Magazine:

“I can’t think of any ethereal band more sonically enchanting or musically daring than Love Spirals Downwards. Hearing early songs like the tenebrous ‘Ladonna Dissima’ illustrates how versatile and adventurous the duo is.”

Satan Stole My Teddybear

“Temporal is a successful best of collection due to the fact that it can both introduce new listeners to this duo’s wonderful and beautiful music as well as give longtime fans a bonus prize for picking it up. Neither redundant or unnecessary, Temporal is much more eternal than the title suggests.”

Conclusion: A Fitting Farewell

Though Temporal marked the end of Love Spirals Downwards’ new releases, it stands as a testament to the band’s evolution and versatility. From their earliest ethereal recordings to beat-driven explorations, Lum and Perry crafted a body of work that remains timeless and deeply cherished by fans. Through Temporal, Love Spirals Downwards offered one final, glorious glimpse into their sonic journey—past, present, and beyond.