At long last, we settled into the studio for another podcast. We had so much to catch up on that it’s 15 minutes – the longest yet! Find out more on the podcast page…
Monthly Archives: November 2005
Music Tap's Featured Artist, November 2005
Matt Rowe reviews “Free & Easy”
In a time where there are many flavours and derivations of music, giving listeners a multitude of choices, and allowing for precision of preference, Lovespirals, originally birthed as Love Spirals Downward[s] some years back, has become a provider of experiences.
Lovespirals’ evolutionary path has brought it down the road from gothic shoegazer pop to hypnotically provocative jazz that is, at once, sexy, sultry, and dreamy. Their last album, the transitional Windblown Kiss, provided hints and sneak peeks into the heart of this duo and where they were headed while their latest, Free & Easy, wades deeply into the stream of where they are.
On Free and Easy, the band’s second release with Anji Bee, who possesses a voice of honey, and a natural element that adds colour and flame to songs, exploring realms of intensities in varying degrees, there are 9 songs of jazz-fusion. With original member, Ryan Lum adding stylish guitar and keyboards to permeate the silky fabric of the new album, the lover of jazz in all of its incarnations will be quite entranced.
The album’s opener, “Free & Easy”, begins by exuding an exhilarating blend of heady and dizzying sensuality. Ryan Lum’s instrumental approach is simple and effective, wisely allowing the mood of the song to carry the listener to the album’s first deliberate destination. It’s followed by the sexually tense, “Hand in Hand”, a musically soft ‘in the moment’ tune of the perfection of love. Things pick up with the dance flavoured “Deep In My Soul” carried by a funky rhythm and delivered by Anji’s ‘by now heart pulsing’ voice. The tune is reminiscent of the ’80s brand of music.
“Walk Away” resembles the past of Lovespirals more readily than the other tunes but still underlines a mournful jazz that also resembles Sade. “Habitual” is one of the stronger songs on the album and reveals a melancholy brought on by the rut of sameness. The album’s strongest track, the ‘saved the best for last’ “Sandcastles” is clearly the band’s single. It has all of the elements going for it – lyrics, atmosphere, a brilliant soundtrack, that voice – that should alert a sleepy public to the dream-dripping gorgeousness of Lovespirals.
Lovespirals already showcases all of the reasons that they should be this period’s hip duo. What remains is for you to discover why I said it.
Podcast VS songwriting
Another week, still no podcast, I know… It happened again that when we found ourselves in the studio together, we were writing new music! It’s been great fun, and very productive towards our next album. I think I’ve counted 6 songs in the works right now, if I’m not mistaken. But the podcast is suffering. Yes. Hopefully over the weekend we can both get in there and do a podcast together. Sorry to keep ya’ll waiting.
Podcast late
Sorry we’ve been lagging on making a new podcast. Every time we’ve been in the studio together it’s to record music, not podcasts. Then I’ve been recording audio feedback for Daily Source Code, which has been fun, but is more time consuming that I thought it would be. I’m thinking about including some of Adam’s funny comments in our next podcast. Anyway, maybe somehow Ryan and I can take some time this weekend to do another podcast, but I can’t make any promises. I’ve resisted doing one without him, coz it just wouldn’t be the same by myself.
More site changes
Sent out a new subscriber email yesterday announcing all our new stuff. Now we’ve got an official webstore on the site that doubles as a brief discography. Figured it was high time we sold our own CDs here. We’re also offering the promotional poster for the new album. Of course, somebody had already ordered one when I checked this morning. We weren’t asking enough money to cover the shipping and postage, unfortunately. I don’t want to make any money on the poster, I just don’t want to lose money on it. Anyway. What else?
Oh yeah, so we finally have tracklistings for our CDs, which was totally missing before. Also created an mp3 page at long last, where you can download a few tracks directly from us, rather than going to MySpace or wherever. Hopefully our bandwidth can take it! Lots of little tweaks here and there, but that’s the main gist of it. It’s funny how much time and thought it can take to get something just right. I’m sure half the people that visit won’t really notice the changes, but Ryan and I sure do. Anyway, props to Ryan for the great webstore!
iTunes Offering 'Free & Easy'
Apple iTunes is now offering Free & Easy for purchase. The sound files sound really good and the artwork looks great. The only bummer is that they listed it as a “partial album” and aren’t offering a whole CD download price. WTF? This album is 30 seconds longer than the last one, and they didn’t list that as a “partial album.” Could it be because its only 9 tracks? Windblown Kiss had 10; maybe that’s the minimum? I dunno… Perhaps I should just contact someone and see if we can alter that in the entry. We can’t be the only folks in the world making 9 song albums. They are 9 rather long songs, after all.
New CD Out Now
Lovespirals’ brand new CD, Free & Easy, was officially released
November 1st on the band’s own Chillcuts Records, with US distribution through Metropolis and Projekt Darkwave. The
album is also available through Amazon,
CDBaby, Auralgasms, and Isotank — as well as Lovespirals’ webstore. Ryan and Anji will personally autograph every CD bought directly from the band as a special thanks to fans for their support. For those who prefer digital downloads, Free & Easy is also on iTunes.
Walk Away
I’ve felt the dizzy heights
Don’t wanna take the fall
Well, I’ve climbed and seen the sights
Just wanna take it all in
Then walk away
I’ve come close to the fire
Nearly burned my hands
I won’t be lifted higher
To be dropped to the sands
No
I’ll walk away
Find my own space
I’ll hide away
Til I feel safe again
(solo)
Maybe I’m acting scared
See, I been hurt before
And my old heart just ain’t prepared
To take a chance any more
No
I’ll walk away
Find my own space
I’ll hide away
‘Til I feel safe again
I’ll walk, I’ll walk away
Find my own space
I’ll hide away, til I feel safe again
I’ll walk, I’ll walk away
Ooh
I’ll walk away
Find my own space
— By Anji Bee (BMI)
Trouble
You catch my eye
It’s pretty clear what you are thinking
I don’t know why
But I can feel my stomach sinking
Though now we’re only friends
I sense what this is headed for
And just how it would end
That’s why I’m heading for the door
I said I’m headed for the door
I’m old enough to know better
Old enough to know better now
You’re trouble
You’re just trouble
You act so sweet
All of the girls think you’re just charming
They can’t defeat
A predator who’s so disarming
I think I see your game
I know full well what is in store
You’d treat me just the same
That’s why I’m heading for the door
I said I’m headed for the door
-chorus-
Trouble
Though I may seem naive
I’ve seen your kind before
So you better believe
That I’m a-heading for the door
You know I’m heading for the door
-chrous-
Trouble (x4)
You’re just trouble
I’m old enough to know better
Old enough to know better now
Old enough to know better
Trouble (x3)
— Anji Bee (BMI)
Sandcastles
Come with me and we will fly
We’ll build sandcastles in the sky
Circling above so high
In heaven, where we belong
Dum, da da, da da, da da (x2)
Da da doo da
We’ll build sandcastles in the sky
We’ll build sandcastles in the sky
Never question how or why
Da, da da, da da, da, da
We’ve only one life to live
We’ve only one heart to give
So we must live our lives and loves
To the full else we’re a fool, fool
Dum, da da, da da, da da (x2)
Da da doo da
Build sandcastles in the sky
Build sandcastles in the sky
Never question how or why
Da doo, da doo, da doo da doo dow
We’ll build sandcastles in the sky
We’ll build sandcastles in the sky
Never question how or why
(repeat variants to fade)
— Anji Bee (BMI)
Love Survives
I’ve tried so many ways to tell you how I feel
You just won’t listen
Many times I’ve tried to explain how it hurts me so
You just don’t care, or so it seems
But even though its eating me alive I still smile
And even though its tearing me apart inside
I know I’ll stay another day
Love survives (x4)
I’ll just wait you out; I think you’ll come around
Can’t go on like this forever
In time I’ll make you see how much it means to me
Can’t keep on telling me “never”
So even though it’s eating me alive I still smile
And even if it’s tearing me apart inside
I know I’ll stay another day
Love survives (x4)
I still believe our love can conquer all
And I have faith you’ll see my view
Deep down inside I know that we’ll work it out
That’s why I’ll stick it out with you
So even though it’s eating me alive I still smile
And even if it’s tearing me apart inside
I know I’ll stay another day
Love survives (x8)
— By Anji Bee (BMI)
Hand In Hand
Here we are
Face to face
Heart to heart
Hand in hand
We will succeed
When the call of love we heed
Rising to new heights
On wings of love we’re taking flight
Hand in hand
Hand in hand
Here we are
Face to face
Heart to heart
Hand in hand
We have the strength of two
Now there’s nothing that we couldn’t do
We put our minds together
To create something that will last forever
Hand in hand
Hand in hand
— By Anji Bee (BMI)