Last week I ran across an iMix listing all the music on iTunes that was used in the late nineties television show La Femme Nikita. One of the songs listed was “Sunset Bell” from Love Spirals Downwards’ 1998 CD, Flux. I hadn’t heard of that licensing deal before, even though I was hanging out pretty heavily with Ryan in 1999, when the show was aired. So I decided to check around on Google to try and find out if it was really on it or not. I found 4 pages of results all listing “Sunset Bell” on episode #305 of season 3, though some listed it as the 1994 Ardor version. Now I was thoroughly curious.

I found out that season 3 was just released to DVD this past summer, so I rented a copy of the disc in question. There was a song featured throughout the show prominently that sounded suspiciously based upon “Sunset Bell,” but was obviously not either version. Actually, there were two pieces; one had a little boy singing off-key, and the other a woman singing rather darkwave-esque — both with lots of reverb and ambient keyboard pads. I’m thinking that they probably decided to have someone create music with the vibe of Ryan’s song so they didn’t have to pay Projekt.

I’d still really like to know if “Sunset Bell” truly was on the TV show or not. If it was, then we need to contact BMI to see about collecting back payments for television airings. From our experience with Dawon’s Creek, these shows can continue to air for years all over the world. Ryan wasn’t with BMI until recently, but they still may be able to recoup some of those songwriting fees. Plus, it very well may be airing somewhere still. I don’t suppose anyone reading this has a copy of the show in question, do they? Super fan, anyone??? For that matter, does anyone here know how to contact Jennifer Ryan Fuller, the girl whose vocals Ryan recorded for “Sunset Bell”???

Forgot to mention that I posted a holiday greeting mp3 for the use of podcasters on podshow promo site. Adam used it for the second installment of his Christmas music podcast project, but anyone can feel free to use it on their podcast as it’s a generic one, not specific to any show: Anji’s Holiday Greeting

No, that’s not my new DJ name, though it would be a cool one!

Man, I actually woke myself up saying, “I can’t find the records fast enough” in my sleep last night. I was dreaming about being at a rinky dink radio station and having the DJ ask me to take over suddenly without explaining the setup to me. They were using a crappy all-in-one stereo with only one turntable, so I couldn’t figure out how to switch records smoothly for segues, and the mic system was hard to figure out as well, so I was just making a mess of things. Then I couldn’t find where they kept the vinyl at, and it was so dark that I couldn’t really see anything. I found what seemed to be a light switch, but when I flipped it on, nothing happened – ala Waking Life. (Do you think it’s really true that you can’t turn a light on in dreams?)

So, anyway, the first song was ending and I was digging through a cabinet of badly filed 45s, and somehow came accross a magazine with a flexi disc in it (boy does that give away my age!) so I ripped it out and threw it on the turntable only to hear “Hey Ya” come on really loud! The other DJ was sitting on a beatup couch in the station lounge, and I ran out and said, “What do I do? This is supposed to be a jazz station!” thinking that I needed to flip Outkast off mid-song. The DJ replied, “Did you find this record at the station?” I said yes. “Then I guess you can play it,” he surmised. Now, if only that had been the case at KUCI, where all of my DJ anxiety stems from… Isn’t it funny that 6 or 7 years later, I’m still having nightmares about my first experiences as a college radio DJ? Sheesh!

I think I’ve been a teensy bit carried away the past month by The Daily Source Code. On the most recent Chillin with Lovespirals, I was about to say, “You know what? I think I could have recorded 2 or 3 podcasts in the time I spent recording, converting, and uploading my audio comments for DSC,” but Ryan cut me off before I finished. Oh well, it’s been really fun contributing to Adam’s show and I have to admit I’ve been flattered by the attention. Ryan’s been teasing about it, but that’s what I get, I guess! But come on, how cool is it that Adam was driving around in his brand new Jaguar while listening to “Abide” and telling the world he wished I was there with him? Oh, and strangely enough, I’ve been laying down the vocals for “Welcome to the Machine” which has the line “He loves to drive his Jaguar” – pronounced in the English way, how Adam says it!

Another week, still no podcast, I know… It happened again that when we found ourselves in the studio together, we were writing new music! It’s been great fun, and very productive towards our next album. I think I’ve counted 6 songs in the works right now, if I’m not mistaken. But the podcast is suffering. Yes. Hopefully over the weekend we can both get in there and do a podcast together. Sorry to keep ya’ll waiting.

Sorry we’ve been lagging on making a new podcast. Every time we’ve been in the studio together it’s to record music, not podcasts. Then I’ve been recording audio feedback for Daily Source Code, which has been fun, but is more time consuming that I thought it would be. I’m thinking about including some of Adam’s funny comments in our next podcast. Anyway, maybe somehow Ryan and I can take some time this weekend to do another podcast, but I can’t make any promises. I’ve resisted doing one without him, coz it just wouldn’t be the same by myself.

Sent out a new subscriber email yesterday announcing all our new stuff. Now we’ve got an official webstore on the site that doubles as a brief discography. Figured it was high time we sold our own CDs here. We’re also offering the promotional poster for the new album. Of course, somebody had already ordered one when I checked this morning. We weren’t asking enough money to cover the shipping and postage, unfortunately. I don’t want to make any money on the poster, I just don’t want to lose money on it. Anyway. What else?

Oh yeah, so we finally have tracklistings for our CDs, which was totally missing before. Also created an mp3 page at long last, where you can download a few tracks directly from us, rather than going to MySpace or wherever. Hopefully our bandwidth can take it! Lots of little tweaks here and there, but that’s the main gist of it. It’s funny how much time and thought it can take to get something just right. I’m sure half the people that visit won’t really notice the changes, but Ryan and I sure do. Anyway, props to Ryan for the great webstore!