A cool new idea in music distribution, Kolo: an independent sound library puts together online music compilations. Typically, they include hi-res 192kbps mp3 files of each song, a DJ mixed set of the material, plus downloadable artwork for the CD. After a brief hiatus this summer, they’re back with a groovy chill-out set, including Lovespirals’ “Our Nights.”
Genres, Schmenres
Sometimes I get frustrated by how much genre identity has pervaded the music world. It seems like nowadays bands are forced into taking on a genre niche to be accepted anywhere. Why can’t we just make/listen to music that we like and enjoy, without having to worry about pigeon-holing everything?
The press have always tried to stick music into boxes, for sure, and the fans have been doing it for awhile, but it feels like now even the bands themselves need to jump on some bandwagon or other to even gain label acceptance, never mind the fans or the press!
Lovespirals do not want to embrace any one genre. We are multifacted people with various music interests. Sometimes we feel upbeat and dancy, other times soulful or bluesy. Sometimes we wanna rock, sometimes we wanna groove, sometimes we wanna romance it old school jazz style. Why should we hold ourselves back?
Talk Talk
On one of our recent outings of buying used vinyl albums, we picked up Talk Talk’s album The Colour of Spring. We finally had the chance to give it a good listen the other night, and damn was it good!
For those who remember the band as just a new wave synth pop band, well, maybe that could be said of their first album or two, but they evolved a lot with each release.
The Colour of Spring is a great and very hard to classify album. It’s soulful, with hints of jazz, and quite ethereal at times. The Hammond organ is just amazing. I swear I can hear the birth of the Manchester sound coming from this record.
Next I want to pick up the album they released after this, Spirit of Eden, where they took a more stripped down, improvised approach.
Sade: Lover's Rock
In a time when albums seems to be a dying art form, and music appears to have been overtaken by inexperienced youth, this album truly stands out. It is so refreshing to hear a mature perspective on life! I loved this album when it came out 3 years ago, and it has really stood the test of time. It is unassuming, quiet, but so elegant and satisfying… just hip enough, without being cliche — and therefore open to premature aging. There are so many good tracks, and not really any bad tracks; a rarity, it seems. I would have been damned proud to have created this album, that’s for sure.
New album?
People are starting to ask about a new album, but we’re just not quite there yet. A new style is coalescing for us, though, which is quite exciting. We’ve been perfecting older song ideas, which I’ve found really satisfying. Now we’re starting to work on brand new material. I have a big backlog of lyrical and melodic ideas, so we just have to start putting those to music one at a time.
The newest song will be a little airier, more musically spacious, to give Ry some room to really dig into guitar work, if he likes. I kinda feel like I’ve been monopolizing the tunes recently with lyrics. Heh heh. So much for Ryan’s old credo of non meaning in his music!
Susan Jennings Online Store
Lovespirals’ semi-official photographer, Susan Jennings, recently launched an online store at IncisionCandy.com offering a plethora of pleasing images, including the landscapes used in the design of Windblown Kiss. Additional works, available in frameable prints or notecards, were featured on Projekt releases including From Across This Grey Land 3, A Day in the Stark Corner, and Ardor. Beautiful photographs, beautiful site; well worth a look!
Slow period
Things have been rather slow around here, but are slowly picking up. We’ve got a couple of compilations starting to line up, using old cuts. Someone has been talking to us about doing a show in Hawaii, which would be awesome. Percy Howard is sending me a CDR of the song he wants me to come out and sing for him. We’ve got 4 solid mixes of new tracks now, too.
Ryan’s been playing Kelly Slater Pro Surfer quite a bit, which has inspired him to get back into drum ‘n’ bass production. There’s a couple Rollerball tracks on the game that sound like a cross between our stuff from ’99 with our recent stuff. It could be fun to go back and revisit some of our old ideas updated with our new jazz knowledge.
Just wish we weren’t so busy, so we could get into the studio again! The past two weeks have been hellish.
Smash or Trash Lovespirals on TalentMatch
Lovespirals are up for the vote on TalentMatch.com’s “Smash or Trash” promotions this month. You must sign up as a member of the free entertainment site to vote, but even non-members can come view our artist page and listen to the audio files. Come on down to talentmatch.com/lovespirals to hear a Real Audio file of “Just Trouble” or a WMA mp3 of “Hand in Hand (album mix)” — both new and unreleased songs!
Back in the studio!
Happy to report that we’ve been working on music again.
The new “Love Survives” is nearly complete, and it’s actually grown quite a bit from the old version. I love the new ideas I came up with for the chorus, and Ryan’s new bridge instrumentation! It’s much funkier and light hearted this time around. Ha ha, I still remember the first time Gabe heard the demo, his response was “Pretty dark!” We’re not interested in being dark or creepy or any of that. We’d prefer to be light and happy.
So the new album seems to be shaping up pretty well. We’ve got: Hand in Hand, Love Survives, Just Trouble, Walk Away, perhaps Sandcastles — if we polish it up a bit. There’s been some other songs tossed around the past year that should work out. I’m excited.
New Lovespirals Tunes on 1sound.com
Two new unreleased tracks are available in streaming mp3 format at 1sound.com/lovespirals for your listening pleasure. 4 additional songs are also available in streaming and free downloadable mp3 format, including the demo version of “Love Survives,” which the band is currently re-recording.
Nada
Nothing much exciting has been going on since we got back from Mexico. I’m starting to miss performing! Our current plan is to re-record “Love Survives” in 24 bit format. I guess the song will probably come out a bit different this time, but nothing as drastic as our redo of “Hand in Hand.” We’ve got a lot of other half-formed song ideas that we’ve been working on the past year. I look forward to having the time to dedicate to diving into the studio for days and weeks on end, fleshing out and perfecting them all. It will be an exciting time. For now, though, I simply dream…
Reflektionen Interviews Anji of Lovespirals
Anji Bee was interviewed by Sterben von Todsleben for Reflektionen, February 2003
STERBEN: The gothic subculture seemed to be quite fond of Love Spirals Downwards; have you noticed much backlash from them with your first Lovespirals release? Does it matter what the gothic subculture thinks?
ANJI: Surprising little, actually. Before the album came out, there were a few people on our message board making a tiny squabble, but at least one of those has turned into a hard core fan since seeing us play live and buying the album. And the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, even from Gothic sources. We didn’t really expect the kind of support we’ve received, but are happy to have it. What’s more exciting, however, is when fans of Gothic music express interest in our decidedly not-Gothic songs, many of which are available as mp3s at various sites on the Internet. Ultimately, though, we would prefer to secure a new audience for ourselves, rather than appealing to old fans of Love Spirals Downwards or Projekt Records.
Continue reading Reflektionen Interviews Anji of Lovespirals