Tag Archives: Lovespirals

New Single & Music Video

The first new single from Lovespirals since their 2010 album Future Past marks a return to form for band founder Ryan Lum. Lum burst onto the American dream pop scene in 1991 as Love Spirals Downwards on the Projekt label, quickly establishing himself as one of the best ethereal producers and guitarists in the genre. “Brother Against Brother” is a swirling, ambient, folk-tinged dream pop track featuring heavily effected ethereal guitar and female vocals by bandmate Anji Bee. You can grab the digital single from Bandcamp or watch the official music video on YouTube.

Buy the 2-song single at http://lovespirals.bandcamp.com

Ryan’s DJ Set at Club Violaine

Another fun night at Club Violaine. This time it was a Saint Marie Records night to launch a new release by local band, Broaddaylight. Ryan was one of several DJs that night, along with James of Broaddaylight and Mo of The Flir, plus house DJs Doomie and JuaNN. Local bands SwayThe Bixby Knolls, and Ancient Arms also performed.

Check out a few pix from the event:

Ryan’s DJ mix included an unreleased brand new Lovespirals song plus an unreleased Closedown song Ryan produced in the mid-90’s Check it all out on MixCloud:

Projekt Holiday Comp Features New Lovespirals

Check out the brand new Lovespirals recording of an original holiday song by Lovespirals vocalist/lyricist, Anji Bee, for the Projekt Records holiday music compilation, ‘Ornamental‘ — available on double CD or digital download. Love Spirals Downwards band founder, Ryan Lum, returns to his vintage Projekt-era roots with melancholic dream pop guitars and lovely female vocal harmonies. Stream it or download it from Bandcamp or check out the official upload on YouTube.

Continue reading Projekt Holiday Comp Features New Lovespirals

“Little Drummer Boy” Single Now Available

It’s been a dozen years since Love Spirals Downwards founder, Ryan Lum, created this ambient drum & bass rendition of the classic Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy,” but at long last, it is finally available for sale! Originally conceived and recorded in 1999 for the Projekt Records holiday music series, Excelsis, this recording has never been properly released. This was the last song that Suzanne Perry contributed vocals to, and it’s sound is very reminiscent of the band’s final album, ‘Flux.’ Like the 1999 Lovespirals song, “Beatitude,” it features jazzy Rhodes piano by guest musician, Gabriel D. Vine, of Monkey Bars.

Over the past decade, 2 versions of this cover song have been floating around the Internet under different titles; there’s the polished aforementioned vocal version, as well as an earlier demo mix which features vinyl vocal samples from a classic old-school Christmas record. This demo mix is stripped down, with more emphasis on Ryan’s funky live bassline, and less use of synth pads. Both versions are quite catchy and a fun addition to anyone’s holiday music library. Pick up the 2 track single for just $2 in the high quality digital audio format of your choice from the newly launched Lovespirals Bandcamp Store


Gothic Beauty Reviews Future Past

To our great surprise, Gothic Beauty included a review of Lovespirals’ 2010 album, Future Past, in the latest issue of their 80 page glossy color magazine. Gothic Beauty Issue 33 is available now at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Hastings, Chapters, Walden Books, Book World, Sheltam Books and Copperfield’s Books – or directly via gothicbeauty.com. Reviewer Michael writes, in part:

“This album is designed for chill atmospheres. It reminds me of late nights at the bar and a jukebox loaded with good music. The song “Rain” is not to be missed — I’ve fallen in love with the song and want to have the song’s babies.”

Re:Gen Mag Reviews Future Past

Re:Gen online magazine review of the latest Lovespirals album:

Ryan Lum and Anji Bee go big on their fourth full-length album, adding ‘70s blues and progressive rock elements to their chilled out soul-tinged electronica.

Their fourth album together is a step into a bigger sound for Ryan Lum and Anji Bee. The duo’s fascination for ‘70s soul and jazz is amplified in Lum’s production, with the Rhodes piano that gave 2007’s Long Way from Home so much of its signature warmth joined by lush, almost disco-tinged strings on the languid, smokey “Rain” and the laidback but funky “Water Under the Bridge.” The guitars are bigger too, the spaced out progressive instrumental “Meanwhile, Irreplaceable Time Flees” segueing into the wah-wah-laced soul of “Insignificant.” Bee’s voice is stronger, more mature, and more powerful this time around as well; Lum and Bee have a reputation for love songs, but “Feel So Good” and “Shine” are positively lusty, highlighting both Bee’s range and her sensuality. The real standout on this album, though, is “Home,” which is more reminiscent of earlier Lovespirals songs in its cozy romantic vibe but features the best singing the pair have ever recorded, with subtle multi-tracking enhancing an already impressive vocal showing.

Continue reading Re:Gen Mag Reviews Future Past

Ecstatic EP on Bandcamp & Streaming Services

At long last, the Ecstatic EP is available again! Recorded at the turn of the millennium –post-Flux, but pre-Temporal — this early Lovespirals release was once sold as an on-demand CDR, but has been unavailable since mp3.com went out of business. You can now find this classic drum n bass gem on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or our fave new service, Bandcamp.

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Idylls & Ardor Reissue CDs on Sale at Projekt

Projekt is currently offering the recently remastered reissues of Love Spirals Downwards’s first two albums, Idylls and Ardor — as well as the debut Lovespirals album, Windblown Kiss — as part of their 3 for $20 sale. Also included in the list of 84 discounted CDs and other items is the Projekt 100 compilation containing “Kykeon (50 Years of Sunshine Mix)”, which is a rare remix not available on any of the band’s albums. A Dark Noel (in the Excelsis series) ~ 3 — featuring LSD’s shoegazery version of “Welcome Christmas” — is also a part of the sale. This track is also not available on any of the band’s albums. Now would be a great time to fill in your collection!

Back From Our San Francisco Trip

Once again, we had a blast with Karmacoda! It was an honor for Anji to share the stage with them for their epic remix of “Motherless Child,” and fun for Ryan to do a DJ set for the Harlot crowd. A few of the songs for the upcoming Anji Bee album were shared for the first time, which was exciting. Local friends came out to hang. Good times!

Love Remixes EP Out Now

The first single from Lovespirals’ fourth album, Future Past, to get the full remix treatment is “Love” – an atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass tune that recalls some of the duo’s earliest work together. A half dozen producers from  different musical schools of thought set Anji Bee‘s poppy yet ethereal vocals to completely new musical scores. From angular drum ‘n’ bass, to lush downtempo, to atmospheric ambient music, this moody collection covers a lot of sonic ground. And Anji’s Chillcast listeners should be familiar with most — if not all — of the contributing producers which includes: Chill Factor-57 Day VisaDivasonicSoul Whirling SomewhereXurba and Falling You (who, btw, created the only mix which contains Ryan Lum‘s original guitar solo.) Purchase the full EP or individual tracks friTunesAmazon Mp3CDbabyeMusicRhapsody, or Bandcamp