Artist.......: Lovespirals
Album........: Free and Easy
Label........: Chillcuts
Genre........: Darkwave
Catnr........: 501
source.......: CDDA
rip.date.....: Oct-31-2005
str.date.....: Nov-01-2005
quality......: VBR/44.1Hz/Joint-Stereo
Url..........: http://www.lovespirals.com
track title time
01. Free and Easy 05:10
02. Hand in Hand 04:41
03. Deep in My Soul 05:03
04. Walk Away 05:34
05. Habitual 05:49
06. Trouble 05:07
07. Abide 02:58
08. Love Survives 04:55
09. Sandcastles 08:26
Runtime 47:43 min
Size 68,9 MB
Release Notes:
Lovespirals' sophomore release, Free and Easy, is
the culmination of this So Cal duo's 3-year
exploration fusing myriad musical interests into a
satisfyingly smooth electro-acoustic sound. Whereas
LovespiralsÆ previous album, Windblown Kiss,
cleverly disguised the bandÆs digital recording
techniques with its focus on organic sounds and
traditional songwriting styles, Free and Easy
embraces the bands electronic origins, offering a
balanced blend of elements from their earlier
dance-oriented material as well as their more
rock-based pop offerings.
In some ways, the music of Free and Easy is a
blending of the ideas expressed in LumÆs 1998
electronica/rock breakthrough, Flux, and the dark
jazzy dream pop of his 2002 release, Windblown
Kiss. The former sacrificed much of Love Spirals
DownwardsÆ prior reliance on guitars and vocals to
create moody ambiance in favor of contemporary
synthesized and sampled sounds, whereas the latter
played down its use of loops and samples,
highlighting instead a lush tapestry of acoustic
and electric guitars, as well as heavily layered
vocal harmonies. 2005Æs Free and Easy finds Lum
embracing that same lushness, built around a modern
electronica framework.
It is this blending of the digital and organic that
makes Lovespirals' work stand out from other bands
in the ever-expanding electronica movement. For
instance, "Hand in Hand" transforms one of
LovespiralsÆ earliest recordings, slowing the
previously frenetic drum ænÆ bass rhythm down to a
very relaxed pace, then building it back up again
with heartbreakingly sweet vocal harmonies, a
light, jazzy mix of acoustic and electric guitars,
and a smattering of the original saxophone hook
performed by previous Windblown Kiss and Temporal
guest musician Doron Orenstein (of Subliminal
Records act, Monkey Bars). Take, also, album single
and longtime fan favorite, ôLove Survives,ö which
is a bittersweet trip hop song using a live
recording of drummer James Moran (ex-Closedown
member) as its breakbeat, and samples of
collaborator, Gabriel D. VineÆs (also of Monkey
Bars), actual Rhodes piano for LumÆs fluid keyboard
work, rather than commercially bought digital
sounds.
Every track on Free and Easy has its own unique
feel; from the dark, blues-hued ôWalk Away,ö to the
sparse arrangement and hushed ethereal tone of band
favorite, "Habitual," to the spiritually uplifting
newly extended ending of ôSandcastlesö (premiered
at LovespiralsÆ ProjektFest 2002 performance), no
two songs are alike. Throughout this 43-minute
collection of electro-acoustic chill out,
Lovespirals traverses many genres while maintaining
a recognizably dreamy, sensual vibe courtesy of the
smooth, soulful guitar and Rhodes piano of Ryan
Lum, enhanced by the seductive vocals and romantic
lyrics of Anji Bee.
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