Spiral Deluxe (Jeff Mills, Yumiko Ohno, Kenji 'Jino' Hino, Gerald Mitchell) - The Love Pretender [Axis]

A1. Spiral Deluxe - Society's Man
A2. Spiral Deluxe - The Soloist
B. Spiral Deluxe - Paris Roulette (Long Mix)
C1. Spiral Deluxe - Shapeshifters
C2. Spiral Deluxe - Uptown
D. Spiral Deluxe - The Drive

Format: 2x12".

Demonstrating the poignant power of experience, human connection, innate musicality, and operating in the present moment, Jeff Mills’ Spiral Deluxe collective presents their second album: The Love Pretender. Driven by the free expression and creativity of improvised performance, Spiral Deluxe is an electronic jazz fusion project composed of the visionary Jeff Mills, alongside legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance / Los Hermanos), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter / Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer, and Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji "Jino" Hino, son of the world-renowned jazz trumpeter Terumasa Hino. Together, these four key musicians formed a band focused on completely improvised journeys through sound.

During their unrestricted performances, what Jeff describes as sonic "conversations" emerged among the musicians, as each contributed their part to long live shows and studio sessions. Within the boundless parameters of free spontaneity, they developed a tacit understanding among themselves, finding balance and elegance within the unplanned interpretations. The resulting recordings have so far led to three releases: two EPs, Kobe Session (2016) and Tathata (2017), and their debut album Voodoo Magic in 2018. With The Love Pretender, we are presented with another impressive collection of "tracks" extracted from a long improvisation session.

Each musician, expert in their discipline and, of course, a total music lover, managed to establish an almost telepathic communication with the other members. Almost no preparation was needed, and their performances flowed naturally and organically. This can be heard—and felt—throughout The Love Pretender. Tracks like “The Soloist” evolve effortlessly, each new turn subtly influenced by one of the musicians guiding the conversation into another phase, and the others respond accordingly, or vice versa. It is music that embodies the true nature of mindfulness and letting go of fear. In that unstructured and free cocoon, artists thrive and create musical moments that, fortunately, have been captured for all of us to immerse ourselves in. Jazzy notes fill the air, combined with electronic basses, synthesized beats, brilliant keyboards, and a warm, inviting atmosphere, with that unmistakable edge that can only arise from improvised performance.

Sylvain Luc's posthumous appearance on the album is also significant. The French guitarist passed away in March 2024, at the age of 59. His natural talent brings another dimension to the album, adding a touch of that relaxed 80s Californian coast vibe on tracks like “Society’s Man”. These contributions to the LP, recorded separately, add character: a final touch of humanity that complements the vitality and presence of this work. Three other musicians also contributed their creative energy to the project: TOKU, a Japanese jazz musician specializing in wind instruments such as the cornet, trumpet, and flugelhorn; and Masa Shimizu, also a versatile guitarist and producer.

The album's themes revolve around the optimism that can arise simply from trusting the process and that, in the end, everything will turn out well. By playing together in this way, Spiral Deluxe places its trust in the mystery of what will come. Being comfortable with not knowing is key to achieving a sense of peace about the future, and this energy is essential to their collective musical proposal. By embracing the unknown, one becomes an eternal optimist, living in the present instead of projecting into the future. This cultivates enthusiasm, an antidote to anxiety.

On the other hand, the title alludes to the changes and transformations that have occurred in current society, where success can be achieved through appearance. The superficiality and falsehood often presented on social media can lead one to wonder what is real and what is not. From artificial intelligence to the fake identities proliferating on dominant platforms, The Love Pretender speaks of a symbolic process of our time. Behaviors that have now become acceptable, but perhaps would not have been decades ago. But this is also part of the cycle of life…

Jeff's intention with this music is to present it in high fidelity, to be listened to again and again. In post-production, he dedicated hours to ensuring the audio quality was the best possible. His goal is to create music that people can live with their entire lives, from his solo work to these masterful improvisations. Music that comes alive, music with a voice that we can replicate with our own. Expressive, unstructured, and alive…

With The Love Pretender, Jeff Mills continues his mission to experiment with music beyond the limits of what is commonly expected. It is liberating, vibrant, energetic, and deeply human. As always, Jeff's bold vision and fearless approach to performance and recording have produced a work that embodies his—often revolutionary—capacity as an artist. There is no simulation here, only pure, unadulterated sonic transmissions from a wonderfully brave, inspiring, and optimistic ensemble…