Album Notes

Lovespirals' sophomore release, "Free & Easy", is the culmination of this So Cal duo's 3-year exploration fusing myriad musical interests into a satisfyingly smooth sound they refer to as Electro-Acoustic Pop. While "Windblown Kiss" cleverly disguised Lovespirals' digital recording techniques with its focus on organic sounds and more traditional songwriting styles, "Free & 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.

Every track on "Free & Easy" has its own unique feel; the title track and album opener, "Free and Easy", is laid back Morcheeba-esque Downtempo flavored with old school R&B stylings, including melodious Rhodes piano and Wah guitar. "Hand in Hand" takes an earlier Jazz Step single, slows it down to a relaxed Liquid Funk pace, then builds it up with heartbreakingly sweet vocal harmonies, a light jazzy mix of acoustic and electric guitars, and a smatter of saxophone by special guest musician, Doron Orenstein. "Deep in my Soul" -- the funkiest of the bunch -- is an upbeat Deep House track featuring soulful vocals and gritty Wah work, ending on a spiritual note with soaring Hammond organ chords. The album takes another unexpected turn with, "Habitual", whose sparse arrangement and hushed tone recalls some of the late 60's - early 70's music that inspires the band. Album closer, "Sandcastles", further amplifies this retro Rock influence in the form of an extended guitar jam breakdown and dramatic Gospel style closing.

Throughout this 43-minute collection of electro-acoustic Downtempo, Deep House, and jazzy-yet-rock-infused Chill Out, Lovespirals traverse 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.

BACKGROUND/BIOGRAPHY:

Lovespirals began in 1999 as an outgrowth of multi-instrumentalist Ryan Lum's previous band incarnation, Love Spirals Downwards. Following the release of his 10,000+ selling crossover Electronica/Ethereal Rock breakthrough, "Flux", Lum began working as a DJ and dance track producer, collaborating with vocalist Anji Bee, and members of Subliminal Records duo, Monkey Bars -- Doron Orenstein and Gabriel D. Vine -- on a string of atmospheric Jazz Step Drum 'n' Bass and Downtempo tunes released on comps like "Chill Out in the City" and "Chill Out Lounge Vol. 2".

2002 brought the release of Lovespirals' first full-length album, "Windblown Kiss", which found the duo of Lum and Bee experimenting with Rock, Folk, and World influenced songwriting, in addition to Jazz, for a very organic feeling, though electronically created, sound. Well received, Jazz Review's Lee Prosser proclaimed Lum "a master of guitar," while Music Tap's Matt Rowe ethused of Bee, "shockingly beautiful and sultry vocals... erotically charged."

2005 finds Lovespirals' marrying their earlier dance elements to their subsequent rock pop sound, combining their favorite aspects of every genre - those most beautiful, haunting or groovy - to create their own special blend of Electronica, Jazz, Blues, Soul and Rock on their sophomore follow-up "Free & Easy". The interplay of Bee's sensual vocals and Lum's emotive guitar playing illustrate their love of melody and harmony in songcraft, something all too often missing in electronica music.