Mp3.com continues their strange love affair with Anji this week, as they’ve added a link to her on their front page, along side Eve and Alicia Keyes.
A Real Audio file of the recent interview with Anji for the Outsight Radio Hours is now online at Music Sojourn . She and Tom Shulte discuss Windblown Kiss, jazz, vinyl collecting, and more.
The Critically Hip site posted a nice review of the album:
“Founder and long time force behind Projekt band Love Spirals Downwards, Ryan Lum has a new partner, a new band name and a new style. Leaving long time partner Suzanne Perry –and quite a bit of the Love Spirals Downwards formula– behind, Lum and Bee have come up with an album that grabs you from the first note.
Anji Bee has an incredible voice that moves from sultry to sensual to surreal to earthy, that winds its way around the guitar work of Ryan Lum like smoke. Whereas Suzanne Perry always sounded sweet and ethereal no matter what she was singing, Anji Bee showcases a wide variety of vocal styling, which, in my opinion, gives the duo much greater latitude on this and future albums.
I totally respect what Ryan Lum and Anji Bee are trying to put across here and I think this partnership may go much farther than Love Spirals Downwards did – and that’s saying a lot! I remember reviewing LSD’s album “Ever” back in 1996 or 1997 and I thought they were pretty cool as an ethereal goth band, but this duo has that one beat hands down.”
— Mary Ellen Gustafson
Anji was interviewed about Lovespirals by Shaun Hamilton for Chain D.L.K. online zine this week. Craig Gidney, owner of the Ethereality Yahoo! Group, posted an insightful Windblown Kiss review that reads, in part:
Ryan Lum’s Love Spirals Downwards has come a long way from its ethereal gothic roots. Gone are Suzanne Perry’s wafting vocal glossolalia, the dark Cure-meets-Siouxsie basslines, and the Robin Guthrie guitar atmospherics. They have been replaced by the smooth-as-silk vocals of Anji Bee; the mysterious Eastern-flavor by dashes of flamenco, lounge, jazz and Brazilian pop, and even –gasp- mainstream pop. Of course, this transformation has been a long time coming. Lum has always pushed the envelope in atmospheric music, assimilating electronica, drums and bass along side such core foundations as folk and shoegazer into the mix. The last LSD album, Flux, was a successful mix of Massive Attack-style songs and gentle breakbeats, not unlike those heard on the Six Degrees label. This new incarnation, though, seems to model itself after the sophisticated pop of Everything But the Girl, once and for all ditching the Cocteau Twins blueprint that has dogged the band since its humble beginnings.
–Craig L. Gidney
A rare message from me, Ryan! We leave in one week for our west coast tour. If you’re nearby, I hope you’ll make it out to see us. It’s pretty rare that we do shows, and there’s no telling when we’ll be back. These shows will be a little different from our projekt show in Philadelphia that we did a few months back. Doron, our tenor sax player won’t be there, so I’ll be stepping it up at the guitar.
Also, we’re playing with fellow Projekt band Mira, who we met in Philadelphia. Cool cats and even cooler music. So it should be a fun few days on the road.
LOVESPIRALS & MIRA WEST COAST TOUR:
Wed August 21: The Pound – San Francisco, CA • 100 Cargo Way @ Pier 96 • 415.273.1169. 9pm. $12
Fri August 23: The Paris Theatre – Portland, OR • 6 SW 3rd Ave. • 503.224.8313, All Ages. 8pm. $10
Sat August 24: The Paradox Theater – Seattle, WA •5510 University Way • 206.524.7677. All ages. 8pm. $10.
The Swiss chill-out comp, Cool Terrasse, was just released by CH Musiq this month. It features a special radio edit of Lovespirals’ atmo Drum n Bass song, “Ecstatic,” as well as 11 other jazzy or ethnic flavored down tempo electronica tracks by various international artists. It is available for sale online for $15 USD.
Thank you for the review, Julie!
The new Lovespirals CD, Windblown Kiss, takes on an ethereal jazz feel with the use of saxophone, slow drumbeats, and several different guitars. The vocals by Anji are lush and melodic, creating a soundscape of their own. One thing I like about this CD is that it has a very diverse feel. Many of the songs feel like something you would hear in a small lounge club (and I mean that in a very good way.) Windblown Kiss is very soulful and warm sounding, yet quiet and mellow — which is great — and they kept this feel consistently all the way through the album. “Our Nights”, is probably the most upbeat track, with additional instruments coming in such as congas and shakers. “You Girl”, has a slightly more rock feel, with an additional twang to the acoustic guitars. This song has the hardest feel, even though it’s still very mellow. My favorite track, “Dejame”, is written all in Spanish. I think this was a great idea as Anji sings it so well, and with a great accent. (Not to worry, there is an English translation included if you don’t know Spanish, but fortunately I do, so as a reviewer it was a real treat to hear!) This song would be great for a slow dance. “Dejame” has a really Spanish flavor, adding a little culture and spice to the album. (You will also hear a little French and German used in the lyrics as well.) Overall, this CD is full of romantic, sweet and lush harmonies that all balance out.
— Julie Johnson
Two new online reviews, both quirkier than the average review, have gone online. Sterben, of Reflektionen, writes “Together they create an erotic alchemy, turning music into great works of passion and sensuality.” Dave, of Nefarious Entertainment Magazine says, “If you’re out of the habit of defying gravity and free-floating around in the sky, try slipping Windblown Kiss into your CD player and laying back with your eyes closed.” [click links for full review]
Mp3.com is currently featuring Anji on their popular Women of Mp3.com station, as well as the Hot Artist of the Month Spotlight. Jianda Johnson recently interviewed Anji about her musical career, including both Lovespirals and side collaborations. Read — and hear — more at the following URLs:
From MP3.com Hot Artist Spotlight (July 2002):
Anji Bees one half of the lovely yin-yang equation named Lovespirals (mp3.com/lovespirals). Though her presence and electronic collaborations are quite prominent online, oftentimes people arent fully aware of her Lovespirals connection (to Ryan Lum , other music-half), or the depth of her project involvement. Anji’s soft, seductive voice comforts, rather than crushes you, hitting your consciousness in rolling waves. Hence, her popularity with collaborations in a myriad of other projects. If you love lounge, shoegazer, down tempo, ambient, or classical music (or its variations — from subtle to razor-sharp), visit Anji — it’s a damn good trip. Sugary sweet picks: “Perfect Boy (Bitstream Dream & Anji Bee)” & “Goodbye (Bitstream Dream & Anji Bee).”
– Jianda Johnson
Ryan has said that no matter what he does muscially, “the long pale arm of Goth” reaches out to touch him. He doesn’t understand the phenomenon. He thought that making a Jazz/Flamenco/Folk/Rock album would clear him, just as he thought making a Drum n Bass/Trip Hop/Ambient Electronica album would, but it seems he would have to do something much more radical than he’s done so far to duck that association.
Who knows, maybe “Ryan Lum” will be forever associated with Goth?
An insightful review of Windblown Kiss went up on High Bias. (“Consistently beautiful treatise on romantic expression.”) The Montclair Times is carrying a nice review, as well. (“Dreamy songs of love and spirituality are perfect for cool summer nights.”) Belgian site, Le Fantastique has written a glowing review, in French. [click links for full review]
We will be making our first radio appearance during our West Coast Tour with Mira, doing a live performance and interview on A Strange Choice of Favourites with DJ Carolee on KPSU 1450 AM in Portland, OR. The date is set for Mon August 26 from 5 – 6 pm. If you aren’t in listening range of this college radio station, no worries! You can tune in online at — http://www.kpsu.org
Lovespirals and fellow Projekt artists, Audra, will each perform a short acoustic set at Ipso Facto counter culture boutique on September 29th. Both bands will also be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans. This is a free show!
Ipso Facto | 517 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA . | 714.525.7865
