Category Archives: Band News

Band News

KUCI related DJ gigs

Friday May 21st, I’ll be dj’ing at Sterile, located at Neutral Grounds Cafe in the Santora Building for the Arts, 207 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA. (More information on the Peach site www.peachfuzz.net). This promises to be a very cool show with the bands Halou (Bedazzled Records) and Sweet Trip (Darla Records) coming down fron San Francisco to perform live. I’m looking forward to a fun evening and those of you in the area should try to go.

Also in Southern California, I’ll be on two radio shows next week as part of the KUCI 88.9 fm annual fund drive. For those of you outside of its broadcasting area, you can listen to KUCI on the net 24 hours a day at the KUCI site.

  • Wednesday 5/19/99 Space Disco For Fish Tacos.

    Special 3 Hour Fund Drive Edition 8pm to 11 pm, with Sweet Trip (Live), Halou (Live), plus Special Guest appearances. I will be doing a short live interview, either in person or by phone.
  • Thursday 5/20/99 The All Purpose Nuclear Bedtime Story

    9pm to 11pm: Host DJ’s, Anji and Justin, will be giving away 3 promo copies of Flux to listeners who pledge, plus I’ll be doing a live interview by phone.

Last month, I sent out the first mailing of the Love Spirals Downwards email list. There’s no regular schedule that i’m planning to send mailings out, but It’ll most likely be once every month or two.

Band News

More DJ’ing

DJ’ing at La Belle Epoque in San Francisco was one of the funnest things I’ve done yet! Thanks to those of you who came out. I’ll be back again sometime soon for sure! The Megastore was cool too, but it wasn’t a club, so not quite as much fun (no booze or dancing).

Friday April 23, I’ll be dj’ing at Spaceland, here in Los Angeles at 1717 Silverlake Blvd (323-833-2843). This will be the release party for the Dewdrops Records’ compilation from last year called, Splashed With Many A Speck, featuring tracks by us, Cocteau Twins, Scenic, and Lanterna – to name a few. Scenic, the Von Trapps, and Daniel Figgis (all the way from Ireland) will be performing live.

More stuff’s in the works, so check back again soon.

Review

Morbid Outlook Article

The Morbid Outlook website published an article by Carlos Dengler of WNYU’s “Theatrum Aethereum.” Entitled Many Faces of Ethereal, it lists Love Spirals Downwards’ 1992 album, Idylls, as an example of the “pop/rock” side of ethereal music.

Dengler also provided the following review:

From the first plucked chords of “Ilusory Me” to the final cadence of “And the Wood Comes into Leaf” we are engulfed by a peace and sweetness that is, ironically enough, familiar. Out of all the chosen representatives of this genre, Love Spirals Downwards is the most acceptable to general audiences. Dare we call it “pop ethereal”? In Idylls the mood explored is still reminiscent of the dark and the mournful that are so definitive of the genre but the moods are contextualized within song formats (ie-verse/chorus), drums often enter for rhythmical impetus, and Suzanne Perry sings playfully, like a child on a swing. This is ethereal that reflects our world more than the rest. Not rejecting the forms and conventions that pop music has engendered, this is ethereal that seeks to explore our world instead of attempting to escape it. Ryan Lum’s lush sonics and simple chord changes keep us tuned in viscerally, without aweing us into submission. This is ethereal for the heart and the pulse –and by implication– for our lives.

Band News

More DJ gigs

It’s now confirmed that I’ll be guest DJ’ing at the Virgin Megastore on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood on Friday evening, February 12 from 8 to 10 pm (8000 Sunset Blvd at Crescent Heights, 323-650-8666). They’ll be giving away some Flux stickers and CD’s, and I’ll be spinning records in a similar mood to our album, Flux. It’s not a club, so you won’t be able to get down and boogie, but this should be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to this.

A reminder that I’ll be DJ’ing in San Francisco this Saturday, January 30. Be sure to come down if you’re in the area. See below for the club info and time.

Band News

Sterile show

Had a good time doing an opening DJ set at Sterile this weekend. Great to see Halou and Sweet Trip as well as the 9-5 Super Spy and KUCI peeps. Here’s a few pix Anji took of the event.

Paul, Dan, Ryan, and Rebecca
Band News, Interview

Interview in Outburn #8, Jan 1999

An interview with Ryan Lum of Love Spirals Downwards by Gary Thrasher

Call it post-shoegazer, call it ethereal majesty… call it post-apocalyptic drum ’n’ bass trance… just don’t cal lit goth. Love Spirals Downwards, darlings of the Projekt label, are a blissful masterpiece of hypnotic rhythms and swirling guitars, topped off with angelic vocals… all with a tinge of dark moodiness and Middle Eastern mysticism. With their fourth album, Flux, a foray into the hazed world of melodic drum ’n’ bass, Love Spirals Downwards are poised on the brink of world dominance… it was on this cliff that I spoke with the mastermind behind the music, Ryan Lum.

How did Love Spirals Downwards come together in the beginning and how did you first become involved with Projekt Records?

It’s so long ago. Suzanne and I knew each other and we just decided to try it out… see how it worked with her singing on stuff I had made. I’d been making music for ages. I’m always just recording and making my own music, as opposed to doing the band thing. I don’t mind rehearsing for shows, but I like to record… that’s where my heart is. I sent a few demo tapes out for the hell of it. I didn’t know who Projekt was. One of my friends, the guy who shot our cover for the first album, knew someone in his art school… Susan Jennings (Projekt owner Sam Rosenthal’s former girlfriend). Somehow they got talking and she said, “Why don’t you have your friend Ryan send his tape in?” We sent a few others out, I think 4AD and Creation were the other two, and Projekt was the first and only to respond. It just evolved from that.

Continue reading Interview in Outburn #8, Jan 1999 →
Band News

Hello and Happy New Year!

My DJ gig in San Francisco for Saturday January 30 is now confirmed. I’ll be spinning at La Belle Epoque, located at the Top, 424 Haight St. (between Webster and Fillmore, club info 415-241-1545, 21 and over). I’ll be on from about 9:30 to 11:30. Along with my records, I’ll be bringing along some Flux CDs and stickers to give away as well. This should be a lot of fun and I’m excited about this since La Belle Epoque is my favorite club in San Francisco. It’s where I’m always at when I’m in town on a Saturday. Come on out and say hello.

Also, this Friday January 15, I will be the featured surprise DJ at Sterile, spinning several sets of ambient and drum n’ bass, along with Orange County DJ’s Christopher Robin (KUCI’s on air/off air & ROTPG) and Daniel Bremmer (Peach, KUCI’s Space Disco For Fish Tacos). There will also be a giveaway of cd’s and stickers of Love Spirals Downwards’ Flux. Performing live will be Kid 606 (Vinyl Communications, San Diego) and Phone. Sterile is located in Costa Mesa, CA at 2944 Randolph ave. #1. Club info is at: www.peachfuzz.net/sterile/. 9PM, $5 + 2 cans of food or $10 without, All ages.

Here’s my favorite records from 1998. By far, the most brilliant album of the year was Mezzanine by Massive Attack. I’d recommend it to anybody who was into our album Flux. Perfume Tree is another band you should check out if you’re into our sound. Moon Safari and Earth are a bit more jazzy and very nice and melodic.

  1. Massive Attack – Mezzanine
  2. Air – Moon Safari
  3. Perfume Tree – Feeler
  4. V/A – LTJ Bukem Presents Earth, Vol. 3
  5. V/A – Soundtrack from the movie Pi
Band News

Temporal on sale now!

We’re starting out 2000 with the release of Temporal, a collection of songs spanning the 8 year history of the band. From the acoustic beginnings to the present electronica/drum ‘n’ bass sound, this compilation covers the entirety of LSD’s career with 13 tracks selected from our master tapes for your enjoyment. The official Projekt Records release date is January 11th, 2000 — but we are offering Temporal for sale NOW at our webstore for just $13!

I had the opportunity to spin a little at a great B-Sides New Year’s Eve party, which got me excited to get back into DJing. Hopefully I’ll have some new bookings to list here for you real soon, so be sure to check back later.

HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM to everyone! Hope you had a great holiday season!

Interview

LSD Interview on Space Disco for Fish Tacos

Ryan and Suzanne performed live on the “Space Disco For Fish Tacos” show in the KUCI radio station in Irvine on December 16, 1998. The following is a transcript of the post-performance interview by show host, 9-5 Superspy.

Audio of LSD performing “Alicia” on KUCI 88.9 FM, 1998

9-5 Superspy: Alright, you’re listening to KUCI 88.9 FM, in Irvine. This is 9-5 Superspy and I’m here with Ryan and Suzanne, from Love Spirals Downwards.

Suzanne: (mimics DJ’s calm voice) We’re here with Daniel.

Ryan: How’s it going, G? I need a better stage persona. You know, people have these cool names and stuff? I was thinking of “G.” But then there’s that whole thing with Warren G. and Garth Brooks fighting over the G.

Suzanne: Oh is that what the “G’d up sound” is?

Ryan: Yeah. Mmm hmm.

Suzanne: The “G’d up sound with the Pion…” is that what that is?

9–5 Superspy: I guess.

Suzanne: Oh my God.

Ryan: Yeah… But there’s Daddy G. in Massive Attack. So that’s already taken. So I dunno. I think I’m gonna scrap the G.

Continue reading LSD Interview on Space Disco for Fish Tacos →