A couple shots from Ryan’s second DJ set at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood. The decks were set up in a different spot this time as it was an opening slot before a Black Tape for a Blue Girl performance. Nice to see Sam and the old Projekt crew again. Thanks to Anji for these pix!
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). 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.
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.
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.
Here’s a few pix from the DJ gig at the Hollywood Virgin Megastore the other night. Thanks to Anji of KUCI FM for coming out to support!
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.
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.
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 1999My 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” cd’s 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.
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!
College radio station KUCI 88.9 FM produces a professional ‘zine to promote their shows, DJs, and favorite bands. In the most recent issue, they featured a review of Flux penned by the station’s music director, Anji Bee:
With Flux, bandleader, Ryan Lum, has fully committed himself to the electronic groove based sound first hinted at on Love Spirals Downwards’ previous album, Ever. Flux gives full play to Lum’s increasing attraction to the melodic side of drum and bass music, with 7 of 9 tracks using that unique polyrhythmic technique. Over an electronic bed of break beats, samples and synth, Lum lays down his signature guitar melodies and lush washes, using both electric and acoustic guitars.
Unlike most drum and bass projects, vocals — both full and sampled — are used extensively on Flux, creating more of a listening album feel than a dance club vibe. Including vocal work from long time collaborator, Suzanne Perry, as well as her sister, Kristen Perry — plus a redux of Jennifer Ryan Fullers 1994 “Sunset Bell” performance — all the vocals are very dreamy, light, feminine and classically Projekt Records in sound.
I believe it’s the vocal sound Lum prefers which still keeps LSD in favor with the gothic/Projekt /4AD contingency that follows the band, perhaps even more so than his beautifully poignant guitar playing. Still, this release should finally blast away the misconception that they are a goth band. If you ask Lum, he’ll firmly insist that they were never gothic to begin with, regardless of how they’ve been perceived by fans or the press.
Love Spirals Downwards has a way of creating happy-sad music that simultaneously makes one feel exalted and contemplative. Flux continues in this tradition, but seems to up the ante just a bit. Over all, the tempo is upbeat, the melodies heartbreaking, the vocals soothing, and everything flows together in the seamless, trance inducing, spirit-lifting vein of LSD’s past albums. With Flux, the songs speak both to your spirit and your mind, your heart and your body.
