Free & Easy is an apt description of this 2005 release by the duo of Ryan Lum and Anji Bee known as Lovespirals. Their website calls it correctly, as a "jazzy and soulful mix of Downtempo, Deep House, and Pop." This is about as smooth and soft as you can get.

1. Free & Easy
2. Hand in Hand
3. Deep in My Soul
4. Walk Away
5. Habitual
6. Trouble
7. Abide
8. Love Survives
9. Sandcastles

Bee's vocals, girlish but sensual, are backed by spare reverb electric piano and restrained, jazzy guitar with a bit of sax and bass. And although the beats add variety to the tracks, you don't notice them, and they don't spoil the mellow vibe.

Lum is an accomplished guitarist, as he shows on the gorgeous eight-and-a-half minute "Sandcastles." But he is clever enough to keep the notes to a minimum, never adding more than necessary.

Bee's singing does not vary much over the nine tracks, but it's no disadvantage. Understatement is the right course with this music. Lovespirals attracts you with a whisper instead of a shout, giving you a sound that relaxes and washes over you if you keep it in the background, but adds subtle variety to keep you intrigued when you listen closely.

There's a breezy innocence in this lounge-influenced work, never sleazy, just free and easy.

~ Dave Howell

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