Spiral Deluxe’s ‘The Love Pretender’ Set for February 2025 Release

Spiral Deluxe, an innovative electronic jazz quartet led by Jeff Mills, will release their much-anticipated album, ‘The Love Pretender’, in late February 2025 on vinyl and digital formats. This unique group, formed in 2014, brings together diverse musical backgrounds and styles to explore the boundaries of electronic jazz. Mills envisioned Spiral Deluxe as a “super group” that could both adapt to new musical approaches and contribute unique insights, fostering a dynamic chemistry among its members. After a five-year journey, ‘The Love Pretender’ stands as the quartet’s second album and final collaboration.

Recorded in Tokyo in 2019, the album features guest musicians Toku on trumpet, Satoshi Yoshida on guitar, and Masa Shimiz on guitar. During mix-down sessions in Paris at Studio Ferber, Mills also invited the late Sylvain Luc, whose rhythm and solos added a laid-back 1970s American West Coast feel to select tracks. The sessions unfolded organically, with the band members performing primarily in single takes. Each recording session began in the morning with core members Jeff Mills, Kenji “Jino” Hino on bass, Gerald Mitchell on keyboards, and Yumiko Ohno on Moog synthesizer, laying down the tracks. Guest soloists then added their parts in the afternoons.

The album captures a spectrum of musical styles, reflecting the group’s wide-ranging interests. The band maintained a spontaneous approach throughout, avoiding any strict guidelines on style or genre. Alongside the recordings, the Tokyo session included a quick photo shoot in the studio’s garden, where each musician wore a custom kimono jumper designed by Anke Bruns.

Though Spiral Deluxe disbanded, ‘The Love Pretender’ serves as a lasting testament to their creativity and musicianship, an offering that showcases the exceptional talent and collaboration that defined the group.