Audio, News

Lovespirals Release ‘Noumenon (Single)’

More than three decades on, Love Spirals Downwards founder, Ryan Lum, continues to reinvent himself, creating captivating music that merges disparate genres with his signature use of guitar and female vocals. With “Noumenon” the ethereal sounds of dream pop blend seamlessly with elements of ambient electronica and trap, showcasing Lum’s ability to transcend traditional musical boundaries. This new track features his wife Anji’s sensual yet airy vocals layered over skittering beats, dramatic guitar, and lush, atmospheric production, creating a sonic landscape that is both immersive and evocative. Lyrically “Noumenon” delves into themes of emotional disillusionment and the struggle to carry on amidst feelings of isolation and pain, encapsulated in the refrain “Love is just a noumenon.” This introspective depth complements the song’s rich sound, exemplifying the timeless quality of Lovespirals’ music and proving that Lum’s creative evolution is far from over.

“Noumenon” and “Noumenon (Drum n Bass Mix)” are available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and many other streaming music services worldwide, while the “Guitar Focus Instrumental Mix” is exclusive to the 3-song downloadable release on Bandcamp.

Additionally, Lovespirals have released two edits of a music video for the “Noumenon” Original Version and “Noumenon (Drum n Bass Mix)” on YouTube, as well as a new episode of their Chillin’ with Lovespirals podcast where they discuss the new single, plus the ‘Flux’ vinyl reissue and more band news. Check it all out at YouTube.com/LovespiralsOfficial.

News

NTS Radio In Focus: Love Spirals Downwards

An hour long streaming audio profile on LSD featuring a dozen tracks from the band’s discography just dropped on NTS Radio: In Focus. NTS broadcasts from over 80 cities around the world, and their In Focus series is promoted as “taking a deeper look at the world’s most interesting musicians and record labels.” The NTS Love Spirals Downwards feature is also available on SoundCloud.

Continue reading NTS Radio In Focus: Love Spirals Downwards →
News

Vintage ‘Flux’ T-shirt Design Reissued

We are now offering a reissue of the 1998 ‘Flux’ tee from Projekt Records for sale. It’s available in the original green tee version and now in black, as well. For the first time ever it’s available as a hoodie, as well, both in green and black. Additionally you can pick up a sticker of the original ‘Flux‘ cover art.

If you’re more of an early-LSD period fan, check out the original band logo merch. The tee is offered in ‘Idylls‘ blue or classic black, while the hoodie is available in ‘Flux‘ green or classic black. There’s also a sticker in either blue or black with white ink.

Check it all out at https://merch.lovespirals.com

Audio, News

“This Ain’t Love (Lovespirals Remix)” Released By Projekt

Check out “This Ain’t Love (Lovespirals Remix)” on the brand new Projekt Records release by Alan Elettronico, ‘Electronic Mind (Deluxe Edition).’ I had a lot of fun working on this mix with Anji and am excited that both the artist and label like it enough to make it the main single on both Bandcamp and Spotify. It’s good to be back with a new song after a long break.

News, Review

Opus Zine Reviews ‘Flux Deluxe’ Digital LP

Jason Moore wrote a mostly positive review of the original Projekt Records release ‘Flux,’ back in 2000 (“Love Spirals Downwards have released an album that’s incredibly listenable and quite beautiful”), and now he’s back to cover the new ‘Deluxe Edition’ two plus decades later:

Lum has remastered and reissued Flux along with a number of bonus tracks, including outtakes, remixes, and live performances. Which is a perfect way to discover one of my favorite Projekt releases, an album that I often turn to when I need to chill out and bliss out at the same time.

—Opus Zine

Check out the full Opus Zine review of Love Spirals Downwards ‘Flux (Deluxe Edition).’

Video

“Sound of Waves” Live at ProjektFest 1997

“Sound of Waves” Live at ProjektFest Chicago 1997

We found a pre-album live performance of “Sound of Waves” Live at ProjektFest 1997 that we just had to include on the 25th anniversary reissue of ‘Flux.’ This video features more goodies from the LSD archives including proof sheets of photos taken of Ryan and Suzanne performing at The Vic in Chicago on the very night of this recording. The photographers are Katie McIntree and E. Katie Holmes.

Stream the ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ playlist on YouTube Flux (Deluxe Edition)  

Read Ryan’s original post about ProjektFest 1997.

Video

Flux Deluxe Chat with Ryan Lum

Love Spirals Downwards founder, Ryan Lum, took a few minutes to sit down in his recording studio to discuss the new 25th anniversary release ‘Flux Deluxe Edition‘ that’s out now on all digital music platforms. He shares many behind the scenes stories about this newly expanded version of his seminal Projekt-released album, as well as insight into it’s creation back in 1997-98.

Download ‘Flux Deluxe Edition’ on Bandcamp to get one additional bonus track.

News, Video

“Psyche” Featured on ‘Dawson’s Creek’ in 2001

“Psyche” from ‘Flux’ in a scene from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ S5: The Bostonians 10/10/2001

Love Spirals Downwards’ first television music placement was on the internationally syndicated show ‘Dawson’s Creek’ on The WB network. The 1998 ‘Flux’ track “Psyche” was featured in a party scene starring Michelle Williams and Chad Michael Murray on the season 5 premiere episode “The Bostonians.” According to Neilson Media Research this episode had 4.47 million viewers when it aired on October 10, 2001. It was really cool hearing this vocal drum ‘n’ bass song co-written and sung by Suzanne’s sister, Kristen Perry, on such a popular TV show and especially in such a long, fun scene.

Check out “Psyche” on the new 25th Anniversary ’Flux Deluxe Edition’ out now on all digital music services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Bandcamp, and YouTube Music!

News

“Nova” Featured in NTS Guide to Drum & Bliss

Love Spirals Downwards’ song “Nova” was featured on NTS Radio on February 17, 2023, as part of a specialized broadcast called The NTS Guide To: Drum & Bliss — and that set was just reposted to the NTS YouTube channel today.

Curated to explore the “vague coalescing” of producers and scenes in the late 1990s, the episode highlights the moment in music history where the worlds of shoegaze and drum & bass collided. The “Drum & Bliss” session placed “Nova” alongside seminal tracks by artists like Bowery Electric, My Bloody Valentine, and Flying Saucer Attack.

Based in Hackney, London, NTS Radio is a global family of over 600 resident hosts dedicated to providing a platform for music that often goes unheard on mainstream airwaves. Since its launch in 2011, NTS has established itself as a premier international tastemaker, known for its deep-dive “Guide To” series, which contextualizes specific sub-genres and musical movements for a modern audience.

This inclusion reflects a long-standing appreciation for the track at the London-based station. In fact, just a month after the “Drum & Bliss” special aired, “Nova” was selected as a featured listener dedication on The NTS Breakfast Show with Flo Dill.

Originally appearing on the 1998 album Flux, “Nova” continues to stand as a bridge between the ethereal and electronic worlds — a quality that inspired Lum’s 1998 quote in Fix magazine describing the sound as “the perfect fusion of beauty and bliss and electronica.” The term “Drum & Bliss” itself echoes that vision, proving that the ethereal drum and bass aesthetic is as resonant today as it was at the turn of the millennium.