by Bryan Reesman
With their satisfying sophomore release, Love Spirals Downwards begin a shift toward more ambient tunes (three of them, one without vocals, fit perfectly within that realm), no doubt partly due to Ryan Lum's interest in artists like Steve Roach and Brian Eno. On some tracks, the duo also begins a folksier approach, one that is natural given that such numbers make for more concert-friendly fare and keep the band from being pigeonholed. The gritty dream pop guitar is still in the mix, although one can sense the subtle shift to the less studio-based sound that would come with Ever.