Ryan Lum: guitar, bass, keys, programming, production
Anji Bee: vocals, lyrics, co-production
CHECK OUT LOVESPIRALS' PODCAST:
Influences
Air, America, Angelo Badalamenti, Astrud Gilberto, B.B. King, Bad Company, Bebel Gilberto, Bee Gees, Bessie Smith, Big Bud, Billie Holiday, Blu Mar Ten, Buddy Guy, Burt Bacharach, Carly Simon, Chambers Brothers, Chicago, Chris Issak, Cocteau Twins, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, David Bowie, David Gilmour, David Sylvian, Diana Ross, Donny Hathaway, Doyle Bramhall II, Duran Duran, Eagles, Eric Clapton, Everything But the Girl, Fleetwood Mac, George Harrison, Gordon Lightfoot, Grateful Dead, Harold Budd, His Name is Alive, Isaac Hayes, Japan, Jefferson Airplane, Jerry Garcia, John Coltrane, John Denver, John Mayer Trio, Jose Feliciano, Kate Bush, k.d. lang, Kool and the Gang, Led Zeppelin, Lonnie Liston Smith, LTJ Bukem, Marvin Gaye, Massive Attack, Mazzy Star, Miles Davis, Milton Nasciemento, Mojave 3, Monkey Bars, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Pat Metheny, PFM, Pink Floyd, Popol Vuh, Robert Cray, Roxy Music, Sade, Santana, Seba, Slowdive, Stan Getz, Steve Miller Band, Suzanne Vega, Talk Talk, The Beatles, The Cure, This Mortal Coil, Tim Buckley, and Wham.
Sounds Like
Love Spirals Downwards, Everything But The Girl, Mojave 3, Mazzy Star, Rachel Goswell, Hope Sandoval, His Name is Alive, Sade, Norah Jones, Air, Sarah McLachlan, Dido, Delerium, Zero 7, Violet Indiana, Cocteau Twins, Trespassers William
Reviews of Long Way From Home released October 23, 2008:
For their third album as Lovespirals, Anji Bee and Ryan Lum again create a lush series of songs that synthesizes disparate influences into a warm, enveloping listen.
Bluesy slide guitar work sometimes shades over into Santana-like finger-meandering, and vocalist Anji Bee's layered voice paints bright glaze over already dreamy arrangements. Enveloping and warm space-folk ditties...
It's not an understatement to call Long Way from Home the duo's most accomplished work up to date; as enjoyable as their previous explorations of laidback electronica and jazz fusion have been, this album captures Lum and Bee's warm musical chemistry in a way that previous releases only hinted at.
From the band's early years as Love Spirals Downwards -- with a vocalist all but forgotten for Anji Bee's lovely, dreamy, and expansive vocal pleasantries -- to their current album, Lovespirals have always been a band of change. Their latest, the wonderfully titled Long Way From Home, is one of superior work and can easily rank as the band's best work in either incarnation.
It's very rare these days to come across an entire CD which you will listen to over and over from beginning to end non-stop, and even rarer to find one which makes you want to grab everyone you know and tell them "you must listen to this." However such is the case with the third release, Long Way Home, from the California based duo Lovespirals.
"Its better than anything they've done, I think. It's really good, I really enjoy the album, and trust me, it is worth the price of admission to get this, if for nothing else than to hear Ryan sliding on the opening track - the guitar is really amazing - and then Anji's sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet voice... She could read me the phone book or a Chinese menu and I would be all happy."
Ultimately, Lum and Bee are all about creating a mood with their music, a relaxed and blissed-out vibe that should be no stranger to fans of dreampop, chill-out electronica, and atmospheric pop. This is music for both late night sessions and noon daydreams, for both listening to at work when you need to escape the pressure of the day and at home when you simply need to unwind with a good book and a glass of wine.
Empty and sad, but of full of emotion, Long Way from Home is medicine for those that dig the alternative. How can you take a gut-wrenching classic like “Motherless Child” and make it sadder? Let Lovespirals get a hold of it. It’s easy to fall into the loose, country-tinged groove of “Caught in a Groove” and let your soul be taken for a ride. By the time the “upbeat” “Lovelight” comes on, you won’t mind being “A Long Way from Home,” and I think you’ll want to stay there.
BUY LOVESPIRALS NEW CD PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED ONLY ON LOVESPIRALS.COM!
Lovespirals began in late 1998 as an outgrowth of Love Spirals Downwards, the dream pop recording project of multi-instrumentalist, Ryan Lum. Lum became immersed in the San Francisco drum 'n' bass DJ scene, and soon found himself collaborating with sultry vocalist, Anji Bee. After a series of jazzy D’n’B singles released on comps alongside the likes of LTJ Bukem, Lovespirals explored their love of jazz, blues, world, and rock music for their moody 2002 debut CD, Windblown Kiss. The duo followed up in 2005 with a sensual blend of their electronica and rock influences on Free & Easy, the first CD for the band’s own label, Chillcuts.
Lovespirals have truly hit their stride with their 3rd full length album, Long Way From Home. Melding the dreamy folk and rock of Windblown Kiss with the soulful jazz and blues of follow-up, Free & Easy, the duo seamlessly blends prior influences with new sounds and styles. The sensual voice of Bee spins seductive tales of beautiful sadness and spiritual longing set to Lum's melancholic music. Bluesy electric guitar abounds, with touches of wistful slide guitar, tinkling piano, and haunting harmonica to evoke a lush, organic, Americana feel. Take a listen for yourself at lovespirals.com, Amazon, Amazon Mp3, iTunes+, CDBaby, eMusic, or Rhapsody!
POMATIC IS THE WINNER OF OUR REMIX CONTEST FOR THIS TRUTH!
Pomatic is the Grand Prize Winner of our Peace Love Productions remix contest! Congrats! He has won an 8 gig iPod Touch, a year's subscription to the PLP Producer's Vault, all 3 Lovespirals' CDs - personally autographed by the band, and inclusion on our upcoming "This Truth EP"! Check out our Top 10 favorite remixes on Chillin' with Lovespirals 51. Thanks to all the producers who participated, there was a lot of great work submitted!
Aloha Love Spirals! Hope all is irie and the summer is treating you well! Drop in sometime and leave a comment when you want to share a new song or anything. Love and Peace,DenRA
This music is unbelievably fantastic! I love the guitar work interplaying with everything & the slither of the vocal melodies. A devout fan here and now!
Hi! I wanted to write you again to apologize for my bad English, now that I have a friend here helping me (lol)... Just wanted to reassure that I find your work great. Hugs, take care!
Lovespirals song "Empty Universe" from the new album 'Long Way From Home' is featured on this week's Chillcast with Anji Bee #102: NIU Support Collabocast. 17 podcasters contributed to this very special 90 minute episode filled with love from all over the podosphere! Check it out at www.anjibee.com or right here on my MySpace blog!
Hello Ryan and Anji! Congratulations on the new CD. I've always been a HUGE fan of your music. Love your sound! Saw you guys live at The Pound in San Francisco with Mira years ago when I lived there. Fantastic show! I've got you on my top friends, too, on the space for my band Beautiful Lucy's Room, as you have been a great musical inspiration. Best wishes and hope you can make it to Australia some time!
