Very interesting… 3 out of the 4 reviews we’ve received this week have called me “sultry”! That just happens to be one of my favorite words, too. I actually — I kid you not — made a fanzine called that a few years back. Never did more than 1 issue, and I only made enough copies for me and my friends, but it’s the thought that counts, right? Ryan hadn’t heard “sultry” in that context before… It’s kinda strange how it can be used to describe both sensuality and heated temperatures. You can have a sultry night, or a sultry stare. If you’re lucky, though, you’ll have both together.
Yearly Archives: 2002
MusicTap reviews "Windblown Kiss"
Matt Rowe reviews “Windblown Kiss” for the MusicTap site:
Ryan Lum, the mainstay of Lovespirals (formerly Love Spirals Downwards ), is in complete control of this band and its direction. Having flitted in and out of several styles without losing its base sound, Lovespirals comes to an extravagant and pleasing approach in their newest offering, Windblown Kiss. Suzanne Perry, the band’s former chanteuse, is missed but her disappearance is forgiven by the shockingly beautiful and sultry voice of Anji Bee. Windblown Kiss is a satisfying surprise offering from a band that stands out in an ever burgeoning sea of bands for all its gorgeous song arrangements.
This release, like sugar on our tongues, is a sweet indulgence. Every song features the erotically charged vocals of Anji Bee and the slowly building tension of Ryan Lum’s jazzed up and sexy instruments. From the flamenco tones of “Dejame” to the icy hot, night summer breezed, slow drip of “Our Nights”. “Our Nights” is a remembrance piece, a nostalgic stroll through the countryside of our memories to times when love and infatuation meant a dreamy walk in the nightlights of Paris . “He Calls Me” recounts the absolute joy of love& how it clouds yet reveals the irridescence and glory of passion.
“Swollen Sea” speaks of a love that is lost to an ever growing sea of lost loves, the shimmering sadness emanating likes heat waves from a boiling sun. The sheer magnitude of the solitary, after hours, soft push and plea to betrayed love that is “I Can’t See You” with the saxophone giving voice, pleading, pleading to make the departure easier than it is. A better than five minute tune, it engulfs you into its soul and swallows you. But& if you hang on for several minutes of silence, you become refreshed with a bluesy, demo-like tune that merrily intones, “You got me feeling down, you got me feeling so blue”.
The other songs are equally blessed and imbued with the engulfment of love and the sticky displeasure of separation. Ten songs in all with a bonus track buried deep in the afterglow of “I Can’t See You”. Wait a few minutes and it will show up. There are clearly several singles on this CD. My choice? The catchy and haunting “Our Nights “. But “You Girl” and “Dejame” are blissful and are wonderful selections as well. The booklet, a tri-fold six- pager, with photos, notes, credits and lyrics is done well. The photos are perfect, the lyrics readable and the overall package a pleasant acquisition. The production on the CD is clear and well recorded.
This album gives us the gift of remembering what once was good with love and anticipation. It encourages us and gives us hope that it can be that way again. I was swept away on echoed guitar notes, carried through the ether of love and hope, deposited into the womb of affection. And on that journey, I saw slightly swaying bodies, loosely holding onto their lovers; hearts joined to the timekeeping of drums until it was all the same beat. That is the impact of this CD, a soundtrack for what drives us to fall in love, what forms every lip to whisper, to moan. I cannot wait for the next contribution from Lovespirals.
Ryan and Anji …You Rule!! (4 stars)
Morbid Outlook
Mistress McCutchan, editrix of Morbid Outlook online zine, has included reviews of both Windblown Kiss and our
Projekt Fest set in her latest editon . I love the look and feel of her site; very well organized and attractive! I recall the very beginnings of Morbid Outlook, long ago when it was press printed, black and white. I am so impressed by her longevity and level of perfection. Be sure to surf on over and take a look!
Progression Reviews Windblown Kiss
Marc Tucker reviews Windblown Kiss in Progression Issue #41
Here we have an extremely surprising duet laying out wispy, torchy, lament music based in various Jazz styles (Brazilian, mild Samba, sophisticated New Age, West Coast cool, etc.). As one would guess, given the label, there’s also a quasi-Goth vibe attached.
Anji Bee possesses a melliflously wistful voice well-bedded in wunderkind Ryan Lum’s multi-instrumentality (endless strings, keyboards, percussion, etc.). This is exactly the sort of thing futiley sought in the catalogs of Basia, Lani Hall, Kenia, and the chantueses hyped to be as laid back as they ultimately proved incapable of – Astud Gilberto being the unmatched paradigm. Lum has a perfect ear for languidity, as sensitive to nuance and atmosphere as Bee’s beautiful modulations.
Multi-tracking her was a perfect choice; other voices wouldn’t have been nearly so accomodating. I’ll be amazed if this album doesn’t start showing up on mainstream playlists. It’s the equal of the crop’s best; a great deal better than most. If you long for premium romantic music to de-stress by, while still retaining your brains, this is it.
Lovespirals West Coast Tour
Lovespirals and Mira will team up this summer for
several shows along the West Coast. Confirmed dates thus far include:
The Pound – 100 Cargo Way, San Francisco, CA | Wed
August 21st
The Paris Theater – 6 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR | Fri August 23rd
You Are The Gun
You know your city’s dirt and grime
Just confuses my mind
Doesn’t look so pretty, but I don’t care
I’m gonna move on and find some air
Right now all I can feel
The sting on my neck
The burdens don’t make it feel so free
But you bring it on home to me
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I won’t hide
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I’m gonna ride
You are the gun
That shoots it on home
You are the one
That drives it on home
Out in the night
I found my key
Out in the night
Never knew love could flow so free
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I won’t hide
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I’m gonna ride
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I won’t hide
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I’m gonna ride
I won’t run, I won’t run,
I’m gonna ride
I won’t run, I won’t run,
never again
— By Sean Bowley
Windblown Kiss
A windblown kiss
Carried over the sea
On sunlight’s rays
Dreams of delight
Dance their way to me
Einen luftkusse
Uber die meere
An eninem sonnenstrahl
Reizende traume
Tanzem mir zu
One can cry only so many
Sea salty tears
Oceans of missed kisses
Over the years
— By Anji Bee (BMI), German translation by Kristiane Joy
Swollen Sea
Will you return here?
Engulfed by a bleak fear
Have you been swallowed
By the swollen sea?
Where have you gone to?
Pray tell it’s not true
That you’ve been swallowed
By the swollen sea
Drowning, drowning — oh no (x2)
Swim back, please swim back
Oh swim back, please swim back to me
Swim back, please swim back
Oh swim back, please swim back to me
Will you return here?
Engulfed by a bleak fear
Have you been swallowed
By the swollen sea?
Where have you gone to?
Pray tell it’s not true
That you’ve been swallowed
By the swollen sea
Drowning, drowning — oh no (x4)
— By Anji Bee (BMI)
Our Nights
Floating along on an ocean breeze
The island coast in view
You’ll be the captain and I your mate
We need no other crew
The weather is fair, the sky is clear
The waves are very few
Nobody out on this perfect day
So I’m all alone with you
Sailing along here in Avalon
The sun’s so warm and bright
How I enjoy our lovely days
But look forward to our nights
Our nights (x2)
Out in our boat on the open sea
The summer light is strong
Everything’s different, time is changed
The days can feel so long
All of our cares seem to disappear
Nothing could be wrong
Let us stay here forevermore
It’s where we both belong
Belong (x2)
Sailing along here in Avalon
The sun’s so warm and bright
How I enjoy our lovely days
But look forward to our nights
Sailing along here in Avalon
The sun’s so warm and bright
How I enjoy our lovely days
But look forward to our nights
Our nights (x4)
— By Anji Bee (BMI)
Old Kazoo Blues (Hidden Track)
That girl mistreated me
She really done me wrong
That girl mistreated me
She really done me wrong
That’s why I’m singing
This low-down ole blues song
She made a fool of me
It tore me all apart
She made a fool of me
It tore me all apart
She made me feel so bad
It nearly broke my heart
She got me feeling down
She got me feeling so blue
She got me feeling down
She got me feeling so blue
Guess there ain’t nothing left
But to play my kazoo
That girl’s been telling lies
She plays it off so cool
That girl’s been telling lies
She plays it off so cool
What does she take me for?
I ain’t no little girl’s fool
— Anji Bee (BMI)
Oh So Long
As the days pass
From dusk to dawn
I count the minutes
And the hours
‘Til you come home again
And it’s oh so long to wait
I lack the patience
Give me strength
Lord, give me strength
Give me strength
Lord, give me strength
As the years pass
From frost to thaw
I count the days
And the months
‘Til I go home again
And it’s oh so long to wait
I lack the patience
Give me strength
Lord, give me strength
— By Anji Bee (BMI)
I Can't See You
I don’t recall the last time we met
Oh dear, seems you have yet to forget
But I, I’ve moved on
There’s nothing that I regret
No I, no I can’t see you
No I, I can’t be with you
Don’t try to kiss me
I’ll only push you away
Don’t say you miss me
There’s some things that one shouldn’t say
We both know it’s over
And it should stay that way
No I, no I can’t see you
No I, I can’t be with you
Don’t hold my hand
I think you know the score
Please try to understand
I’m not your girl anymore
Go on, don’t force me
To show you to the door
No, no, no no
Non je, je ne puis pa vous voir
Je ne puis pa etre avec vous
Je suis desole
Je ne veux pas voux
No, no, no, no
No, no, no, no
— By Anji Bee (BMI)