| Love Spirals Downwards | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Genres | Dream pop Shoegazing Dark Wave Ethereal Wave Atmospheric drum'n'bass (later) |
| Instruments | Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sampler, drum machine, keyboard, hand drum, dulcimer |
| Years active | 1991–1999 |
| Labels | Projekt Records Hyperium Records |
| Associated acts | Lovespirals Melodyguild |
| Website | Love Spirals Downwards |
Love Spirals Downwards was an ethereal darkwave, dream pop, atmospheric drum'n'bass and electronica recording act from California.
Contents |
Love Spirals Downwards was begun by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Lum and then-girlfriend Suzanne Perry. In 1991, Lum and Perry recorded a demo, which led to a contract with Projekt Records. Over its 8-year history, the band released four full-length albums, a career retrospective, and a CD single, selling (by their own account) in excess of 40,000 CDs [1]. They were also included on over two dozen various artist compilations [2], including the Heavenly Voices series released by the German label Hyperium Records.
Perry's sister Kristen collaborated with Lum and Perry on two tracks on the 1998 album, Flux. One of her songs, "Psyche," was used on episode #501 of Dawson’s Creek, originally airing on 10 October 2001. This episode is included on the Season 5 DVD set. [3]
Jennifer Wilde (then working under her maiden name, Jennifer Ryan Fuller) performed as a guest vocalist on two tracks for Love Spirals Downwards' 1994 second release, Ardor. Her vocals from one of these songs, "Sunset Bell," were reused for a new version of the song 4 years later on the band's album, Flux. Wilde went on to form her own band, Liquid State, in January 2006. [4]
Although the band never officially broke up, in 1999 Lum began releasing music under the shortened moniker, Lovespirals, featuring new vocal collaborator, Anji Bee. In January 2000, the Love Spirals Downwards career retrospective CD, Temporal, was released by Projekt including new remixes of songs from Flux and promotional materials that seemed to indicate the band was still active. [5]
Soon after, Projekt announced that Perry would release an EP under the band name, Melodyguild, in 2003. The release was pushed back several times before disappearing from the label's site. Projekt released a label sampler CD in December 2006 with a Melodyguild song listed as "from the 'Aitu (maxi CD)'," set for 2007 release.
Out later in 2007 are two re-released albums in remastered versions, namely "Idylls" and "Ardor". Remastered by Ryan Lum in 2007 both releases hold extra tracks.[1]
In June 2008 Suzanne Perry, the vocalist for Love Spirals Downwards, returned with her first body of work in almost a decade under the Melodyguild moniker. The quartet released the 4-track EP "Aitu" via the Projekt Records label.[2]