Category Archives: News

New Video for Lovespirals' "Aspenglow"

Lovespirals “Aspenglow” from Excelsis Vol. 3

Brand new video for Lovespirals’ cover of the wintry John Denver song, “Aspen Glow,”  recorded for the 2001 Projekt holiday comp, ‘Excelsis Vol. 3: A Prelude.’ It was also included on the 2002 Hot Topic Holiday comp, ‘A Dark Noel: The Very Best of Excelsis.’

MusicTap writes: “Lovespirals gives us “Aspen Glow”, a song borrowed from John Denver and sweetly sung in as good a version as you’ll ever hear by the beautiful Anji Bee, who’s voice is as charming as a winter scene that you become lost in. Ryan and Anji’s respect for the season is deeply felt. This track has become one of my favorite seasonal songs.”

Purchase this CD or hear more tracks from the series at: http://www.projekt.com/excelsis

Projekt Releases “Happy Holidays” by Lovespirals

Check out the brand new Lovespirals recording of an original holiday song by band vocalist/lyricist, Anji Bee, for the Projekt Records holiday music compilation, ‘Ornamental‘ — available on double CD or digital download. The band returns to the vintage roots with melancholic dream pop guitars and lovely female vocal harmonies. Purchase the CD or download from Bandcamp or stream the audio on YouTube.


Meanwhile Irreplaceable Time Flees/Insignificant Video Premier

Today’s Chillcast Video, episode 94, presents the world premier of the latest Lovespirals video, set to the songs “Meanwhile Irreplaceable Time Flees” and “Insignificant” from our 2010 album, Future Past. This marks Ryan Lum’s first music video production and was shot on location at Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island and in the band’s Chillcuts and Chillcast studios.

Buy this CD or digital format album from the Lovespirals Bandcamp Page and you will also get a copy of this music video, as well as our videos for “Believe” and “Home.”

As well, we have just the music video on YouTube and Vimeo for you too. Enjoy!

Lovespirals See Duran Duran

Ryan and I picked up last minute tickets to see Duran Duran at the OC Fair’s Pacific Amphitheater last weekend. Back in the 80’s I actually created and distributed a popular fanzine called, Duranies Unite, so you could definitely say they’re one of my favorite bands. They fell off my radar for most of the past decade or so, but a friend got us pit passes for their sold-out show at The Fox Theatre in Pomona last year and we were both impressed by how on top of their game they are (see my video of “Ordinary World” on YouTube). This year’s show focused more on the hits than last years, which is always a let down for the more hard core fans, but pleases the masses – especially at an event like a county fair. Still, they played a few of my faves from the new album, All You Need Is Now, including “Before the Rain,” and “The Man Who Stole A Leopard,” the later of which I caught on my iPhone. Check out the video on Lovespirals Official YouTube account, below:

Anji and Ryan of Lovespirals watch Duran Duran at the 2012 OC Fair

Lovespirals Contribute To New Book Series

Ryan Lum and Anji Bee of Lovespirals contributed stories to The First Time I Heard book series compiled and edited by Scott Heim, who wrote the novel, Mysterious Skin. Ryan’s story on the first time he ever heard the Cocteau Twins is out now on Amazon and iTunes, while Anji’s story on Kate Bush will be out later this year. Other musical acts covered in the series include David Bowie, The Smiths, and Joy Division/New Order with Abba, My Bloody Valentine, Kraftwerk, R.E.M., The Pixies, and Roxy Music coming soon. Additional contributors include Harold Budd, Annie Barker, Ian Masters, Rebecca Coseboom, and many other musicians and vocalists, as well as several novelists, journalists, and poets. Follow The First Time I Heard on Facebook to keep up with all the latest news on this ongoing series.

Update: The First Time I Heard Kate Bush, featuring Anji’s essay, is now available in digital format on Amazon and iTunes, plus other digital book stores online.

 

Download Ryan's Atmosphere 99 DJ Set FREE

Ryan Lum of Lovespirals (and formerly, Love Spirals Downwards) put together this mix set during his atmospheric drum & bass DJ heydey between promotions for his 1998 album, Flux, and his 1999 retrospective comp, Temporal, in 2000. Funnily enough, it does not include ANY of his own music. 😉 The Atmosphere ’99 set was first released via Live365 in April 2000 and featured in the Jungle section of the short lived RadioSpy site run by GameSpy in March 2000. After more than a decade, it is now available as a free download on Lovespirals’ SoundCloud page, limited to 200 downloads. Go download your copy of the nearly hour-long Atmosphere 99 Mix by Ryan Lum now! Stream the DJ set from the widget below, and be sure to share it with your friends.

If you’d like to hear Ryan spin some tunes live, you’re in luck, as he will be DJing at the intimate chillout event, Savasana Relaxative, on March 31st. Also DJing is local legend, sid&molly, and our own, Anji Bee of The Chillcast. Additionally there will be an aphrodisiac elixir bar, traditional Gong Fu Cha tea ceremony, and raw chocolate confections being served. No alcohol, just good vibes. Come chillout with Lovespirals!

Gothic Paradise Reviews Future Past

Internet radio station, Gothic Paradise, published a review of our 2010 album, Future Past, on their website. After a decade, Lovespirals have reconnected with this active source of music and information for the Gothic/Industrial/EBM/Ethereal communities, leading to the band being reinstated on their webzine, as well as having songs added into their show playlist.

Check out the Lovespirals band page on Gothic Paradise which includes a general bio and commentary on the band, plus reviews of both our first album, Windblown Kiss, and our most recent album, Future Past.

Below is the full review of Future Past by site founder, Jacob Bogedahl:

It has been ten years since we reviewed Windlbown Kiss here on Gothic Paradise.  Though this latest album was released a couple of years ago at the time of this writing, it’s good to go back and review it as we reintroduce this band to the pages of Gothic Paradise. It comes with eleven dreamy, downtempo pop pieces, exploring some diverse genres and hearkening back to the jazz sounds of years past.

As I’ve listened to this album over and over again to come up with a good description, one word keeps popping into my head and it’s one I’ve overused with the description of this duo and that’s “Jazzy”. Though there is a lot at play here, the prominent instruments are definitely a jazz guitar and/or electric piano coupled with Anji’s smooth vocals. The result is a very chilled out jazzy, downtempo pop sound. This is portrayed across all the smooth tracks starting with “Home” which comes out as a sentimental piece that any of us can relate to after being away from home for a while. The sultry, soft vocals take on deeper feeling across various pieces including the moodier tracks “Rain” and “One of Those Days”.

As we get about halfway through the album, a vibrant electronica style comes out on “Love” which actually brings back feelings of the early styles from this duo as well as just a touch of ethereal that fans should really love. Another dreamy highlight comes a bit later with “Meanwhile, Irreplaceable Time Flees”. This heavily ambient instrumental piece drifts along with some excellent guitar work keeping it grounded in the jazz style and dreamy moods. The regular tracks on the album wrap up with “Sinking” and “Believe” remaining on par with the rest of the album, as you listen to each track you can detect the common instruments and tempo which creates a homogenous style and mood that slowly drifts along with a soft groove. There are a couple of demos and a live piece as bonus material that die-hard fans will enjoy and with that it comes to a close.

There you have it, overall the band has really rooted themselves in a solid jazz-infused chillout pop style. We’ve seen the music transform slightly over the years as they’ve grown and explored their own styles and tastes. One thing seems sure, they seem to really be enjoying themselves over the years and with their music and that is the one thing I can highly recommend to any artist.
Rating: 4/5

Future Past in Majamaki Top 10 of 2011 List

Its always lovely to get good press, no matter how late or how obscure. California blogger, , has included Lovespirals in his Top 10 Music Albums of 2011, alongside Low, Thievery Corporation, Moby, Coldplay, Beastie Boys, and more.

Lovespirals – Future Past (Chillcuts 2010)

While this album was released in 2010, I discovered the album, and the band, this year. As a long time fan of the band Love Spirals Downward, who stopped producing new material in 1998, I had no idea that lead instrumentalist Ryan Lum made a new band with vocalist Anji Bee and released new music under the name Lovespirals. After discovering this I picked up 3 Lovespirals albums spanning the last decade, including; Windblown Kiss (2002), Long Way From Home (2007), and Future Past (2010).

For me, Future Past, is the strongest of the albums and it really stuck with me throughout the year. The music style is a little less etherial and dark when compared to Love Spirals Downward, instead it is more acoustic with subtle downtempo electronica that creates a dreamy pop soundscape. Soft hypnotic melodies with dreamy vocals in every song always puts me in a good mellow mood. Ryan even pays homage to Pink Floyd’s guitar intro from Shine on You Crazy Diamond with Meanwhile, Irreplaceable Time Flies. While I would love to hear a new Love Spirals Downward album, I don’t expect it to happen, however I do look forward to hearing what Lovespirals releases next.

25% Off All Lovespirals' Music This Holiday!

Lovespirals are now using Bandcamp as their official webstore and to kick off the big launch, they are offering 25% off everything in the store through the end of the year! Simply enter discount code “HOLIDAY” in the checkout dialog after you’ve made your selection and you’ll see the discount applied.

All four of Lovespirals’ full-length albums (Windblown Kiss, Free & Easy, Long Way From Home and Future Past) are available for sale both in CD and digital format, and come with various bonuses. The digital downloads contain 3 bonus tracks each; early demos, live recordings, cover songs, or previously unreleased tracks. Downloads also include fun stuff like lyric sheets, hi-res artwork, band photos, or music videos. All CD orders come with a free digital download including these extras, plus Lovespirals will personally autograph your CD cover. And best of all, the band have put together a very special 4-album gift pack which includes a free CD copy of the 2011 compilation, The Chillcast with Anji Bee; 5 Years of Chillin’ featuring the brand new Lovespirals’ song, “Try To Forget,” and the brand new single by Anji Bee, produced by Ryan Lum, called “Put Some Music On.” Get all 4 albums on CD, plus the comp, all bonus tracks, digital download items, PLUS an original promo postcard, poster, and band glossy (while supplies last) for just $40 + shipping — minus a 25% discount if you act before December 31, 2011!

Lovespirals’ Bandcamp store also carries all 6 of the band’s digital-only EPs, including a brand new release of their impossible-to-find Walk Away EP with additional tracks that have never before been released!  So what are you waiting for? Go check it all out at lovespirals.bandcamp.com – and pick up some independent music for your friends and family this holiday season.

5 Years of Chillin' Comp Free Download

The various artist compilation, The Chillcast with Anji Bee: 5 Years of Chillin’, is now available on the NoiseTrade site. Featuring an exclusive new song from Lovespirals, called “Try To Forget,” plus the Karmacoda remix of the band’s cover of “Motherless Child” – which features additional vocals by Heather Pierce and B – plus the new Anji Bee single, “Put Some Music On,” co-produced by Ryan Lum of Lovespirals, this album is a must have for Lovespirals fans. Lovespirals’ pals and collaborators MoShang, Chill Factor-5, 7 Day Visa, Adam Fielding, Mr. Meeble, and Sunburn in Cyrpus all contributed tracks, as well as Ernesto + Markus Z, Science for Girls, Steve Kilbey + Martin Kennedy, and Under. Best of all, you can download the entire collection for free! The NoiseTrade site allows listeners to “tip” artists via PayPal, so if you’d like to do so, feel free, but by no means is it necessary. We hope that you’ll help us spread the word about this great free download on your Facebook, Twitter, G+ and other social media sites! Download the 5 Years of Chillin’ Comp Free from NoiseTrade


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.”

Below is a scan of the full review:

Gothic Beauty Review 'Future Past'
Gothic Beauty Review ‘Future Past’ by Lovespirals