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.

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.

For all you more musicianly types, there is story on us in the current March issue of Acoustic Guitar. And for further guitar and gear secrets, check out the “Gearbox” section of that issue for a second small article on us.

We are currently finishing up some new tracks for an EP/CD-Single to be released in the Spring of 1997. It’ll be quite unlike anything we’ve released before. Also, I think it’d be appropriate and fun to end the year with my (Ryan’s) favorite releases of 1996.

1. Mojave 3 – Ask Me Tomorrow
2. Everything But the Girl – Walking Wounded
3. Logical Progression (v/a drum & bass compilation)
4. Perfume Tree – A Lifetime Away
5. Red House Painters – Songs For A Blue Guitar

Here’s the latest information I received from Echoes regarding our recently taped performance. Check their website to find out what local radio stations you can hear this on:

December 13, 1996
A Living Room Concert with Love Spirals Downwards

Actually, it’s a bedroom concert since that’s where Suzanne Perry and Ryan Lum of Love Spirals Downwards have their home studio. We visit the duo in their Los Angeles boudoir, where they unfold the delicate filigree of their music in an intimate performance for the heavenly voice of Perry and the acoustic guitar of Lum, playing music from across their 3 albums, including the latest, Ever (Projekt).

On Friday November 15 at about 8 PM we will be doing a live on-air performance on KUCI, a radio station in Orange County, California. We will be performing 5 or 6 songs, as well as doing an interview. For those who live out of its range, they are hoping to do a live internet broadcast of this. Regardless, it will be available on the internet soon after. I’ll tell you where to find it as soon as they tell me.

Also on November 14, we will be recorded live at our studio as part of the “Living Room Concert” series of the nationally syndicated radio show Echoes. I’ll let you know here when it will be aired. And on November 16, for those in the area, don’t miss the Steve Roach show in Santa Monica. He’s one of the most amazing live (as well as recording) artist I’ve ever experienced and highly recommend seeing him.

Ever, our new full length CD, still looks right on track for being released on the week of September 15, 1996. What that boils down to is you won’t see it in stores until October, but you will be able order it direct from Projekt that week. It’s hard for me to describe what it sounds like, but everyone at the label seems to agree that Ever is different than our previous albums. Sideways Forest, our new CD-single, has been out for about a month now. The label tells me that the trip-hoppy “Quantum Remix” of “Sideways Forest” (which is only on the CD-single) has been getting a bit more radio and club play than normal.

We have no upcoming shows planned and it seems that we are done playing live for the year. If this changes, I’ll mention it here. We are planning on doing more shows next year.