Mushroom Music Publishing

02 September 2010 :

Rowland S Howard - The Golden Age Of Bloodshed

Liberation Music are producing and releasing a deluxe packaged vinyl 7” single of ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’. The B side is a previously unreleased instrumental titled; ‘Lost In Space’.

‘Lost In Space’ was a piece composed by Rowland for the ‘Pop Crimes’ album which remained unfinished. It was mixed after his passing and is presented here respectfully as an interpretation of his original intent. – Mick Harvey, J.P. Shilo & Lindsay Gravina

There will only be 500 individually numbered copies of ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’ available world wide. Released through Liberation Music in Australia and in stores from Friday October 29th.

Please click the following link to view the video clip of ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’, as directed by Richard Lowenstein http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=nP1M6hoygnU

‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’ is also available on Rowland’s ‘Pop Crimes’ album. Lauded as one of 2009 Australian releases of the year, the album is earning due respect with a local release in the UK and Europe on English indie label, Infectious.

*“Wringing his guitar neck for all that it's worth, this could easily be the sound of some kind of infernal film noir as the echoes and bends cast long shadows among the trails of curling cigarette smoke caught in the dim afterhours lighting.” The Quietus.com, UK

“8.5 / 10 Thankfully we’ll always have ‘Pop Crimes’, a brooding piece that sees the post-punk firebrand playing the existential cowboy as beautifully as ever.” NME, UK

“4.5 / 5 Howard’s vocals speak of a life lived close to the edge and his garrulous, almost weary delivery is haunting. But it is his evocative, inventive and constantly surprising guitar playing that leaves the greatest impact.” The Irish Independent *

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27 August 2010 :

BIRDS OF TOKYO ACHIEVE GOLD STATUS

Perth's Birds Of Tokyo came within a whisker of ending Eminem's month-long reign at #1 when their new, self titled release, entered the ARIA Album chart at #2 earlier this month. Four weeks on and the album has already surpassed gold sales and sits comfortably at #6 on the national ARIA album chart. The album is also #3 on the official ARIA Australian artist chart and #2 on the AIR, Independent Music Charts.

It's the independent group's third studio album but their highest ever chart debut result. Recorded in Sweden and mixed in New York, the intensely melodic and brooding collection of songs has already attracted massive critical acclaim with the Sunday Herald Sun raving that ‘Birds Of Tokyo haven't merely arrived. They've smashed the door down.’ Melbourne’s The Age newspaper go on to say “Dominant, sculpted sound and cathartic introspection appear to be the next big thing.”

“We’re so proud of this new body of work and where we’re heading musically”, said the group’s drummer, Adam Weston. “We’re afforded this new confidence by the positive energy and love of the listeners...thank you!”

"Plans" - the latest single from "Birds Of Tokyo" - is one of several songs that have been heavily supported by longstanding supporters, Triple J, over the last month. The lead track is now also receiving loads of spins from Nova plus other stations around Australia and is currently at #18 on the national ARIA singles chart, its highest position yet – the only way is up! ‘Plans’ is also #2 on the ARIA Australian artist singles chart this week with a killer VIDEO saturating screens around the nation.

This overwhelming response to Birds Of Tokyo's new music coincides with tickets going onsale for their biggest ever national concert tour. The shows are all selling fast with over 5,000 tickets going out the door nationally in just the first 24 hours. All shows will feature very special U.S. guests Silversun Pickups and just announced, Perth band, The Chemist will also join the line-up for all shows excluding Perth where The Emperors will hit the stage.

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26 August 2010 :

KASEY CHAMBERS - LITTLE BIRD

Kasey’s fifth solo album, ‘Little Bird’, will be released on Friday September 17th.

The 14 tracks were recorded with an all-star band that Kasey dubs The Millionaires; John Watson on drums, Jeff McCormack on bass, with her husband Shane Nicholson, Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil) and Kasey’s dad Bill Chambers playing all manner of guitars and stringed instruments. Then came a procession of respected guest vocalists for different tracks: Missy Higgins, Camille Te Nahu, Brooke Harvey, Andy Toombs, James Gillard, and seminal American country singer Patty Griffin.

“These guys are some of my favourite musicians, including the backbone of my touring band, so there is a familiarity and intuitive understanding of where this music should go,” says Kasey. “When the songs are that fresh, there’s something magical about taking them into the studio and bringing them to life, right then and there.”

Kasey will commence her national ‘Little Bird’ tour the same day as the album is released. She will be joined on the road by John Watson on drums, Bill Chambers – multi instruments, Jeff McCormack on bass, Michael Muchow on guitar and Ashleigh Dallas on fiddle.

Over the next three months Kasey and the band will perform shows right around Australia. As well as the gorgeous new songs from ‘Little Bird’, Kasey will also perform all her classic hits from her previous four solo recordings plus songs from her ARIA and multi Golden Guitar winning collaboration with her husband; Shane Nicholson ‘Rattlin Bones’.

See Kasey's songwriter page for full tour dates.

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21 August 2010 :

SHORT STACK NEW SINGLE ‘PLANETS’

It only takes a few seconds for Planets, the first single off Short Stack’s white-hot second album This Is Bat Country, to prove the breakout success of 2009’s Stack Is The New Black wasn’t a GOLD flash in the skinny-pants pan. Ominous makes way for anthemic, brooding melds with bravado, and the world is a better place for three and a half minutes. The Stack have landed – bigger, better and more confident than ever.

“Planets was the little track that could,” laughs singer, guitarist and songwriter Shaun Diviney. “We have this mature, sexy new sound coming through, and can't wait to show it off. It’s still definitely very us, It’s still aggressive but it’s controlled. I wanted to do this whole Queen thing with layers and choir harmonies.”

Fittingly, the accompanying clip for Planets finds Short Stack in a sumptuous masquerade ball, a mysterious world where everything is possible but all is not what it seems.

To celebrate the release of Planets, there are heaps of fan pre-orders available including exclusive and never before released content, head to www.shortstack.com.au for further information.

It’s an understatement to say Short Stack – Shaun, Andy Clemmensen (bass) and Bradie Webb (drums) – have come a long way since forming on the NSW Central Coast in 2005. Undeniably the biggest online band in the country, they have developed a legion of dedicated fans. Short Stack toured nonstop from 2007 with major supports and then building and exploding with national headline sell out tours in 2009 and 2010 closing with a sold out performance at Sydney’s iconic Opera House in April. Sold out shows is one thing, but having your debut album land in the ARIA charts at number-one on the way to going gold takes things to a whole other level. As Shaun says, “Not many artists in Australia can say that. It’s something we’re really proud of, and a personal milestone.”

Mixing electro quirks and choral harmonies with a disco edge and their ever-present rock swagger, pop salvation never sounded so invigorating. The scene is undeniably set for another chart-blitzing effort when This Is Bat Country drops on 19 November 2010.

But after taking the clichéd “second album” pressure in their stride, the guys have a lot of milestones on the way. Believe the hype and get on board, because the Short Stack juggernaut is about to take off into overdrive – again!

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