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(Photo by SielojRamiakis)
Dandelion Wine brand new album "All Becompassed By Stars" has just been released on the German label Ars Musica Diffundére/Black Rain Media Group GmbH (26.03.2010). Two preview songs have just been posted here.
The first round of 2010 European Tour dates have just been announced. More to be added soon - Check back often or sign up to the mailing list to be the first to know (be sure to tell us which city/country when you sign up)
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Dandelion Wine are an ethereal electro-world band that while based in Melbourne Australia, inhabit a very different world. A world where the centuries bleed into one another to create a seamless whole. A world where medieval instruments collide headlong with electronic beats. A world where angelic vocals soar over waves of distorted guitars. A world where gentle acoustic whispers give way to blasts of inner turmoil.
Dandelion Wine's latest album "All Becompassed By Stars" (March 2010, Ars Musica Diffundére) takes the increased energy and danceability of 2008's "Selected Anachronisms" to our new level of intensity, whilst simultaneous featuring some of the band's most ethereal and beautiful work to date. The result is an album of extremes, with a distinct dichotomy between between the pounding beats of songs such as "Gravity" and the delicate acoustic flourishes of "Early Warning Sign" or the ambient textures of "Seven Times As Bright". However, even amid the most intense songs, the band's trademark use of medieval and world instruments is still clearly evident, with dulcimers, bell cittern and flutes ringing out over the fat analogue synths, big beats and cranked guitars.
While the band have frequently flirted with non-western rhythms over the years, on "All Becompassed By Stars" these rhythms come to the fore, with layers of Indian, Middle Eastern and African percussion driving many of the songs. Adding to the Australian duo's usual array of unconventional instrumentation on this release are the bell cittern (a late-medieval 12 string instrument akin to the mandolin) and sansula (a German variation of the African kalimba or thumb piano).
The increased energy of recent Dandelion Wine albums is a reflection of the bandʼs live shows : a Dandelion Wine live show has been honed in thirteen countries and is not a stand and mumble into the microphone affair. On the contrary, it is an energetic, passionate and visually arresting delivery of the band's unique music : strings are broken, sweat is expelled and feathers are ruffled.
Dandelion Wine's 2008 Selected Anachronisms Europe/Japan Tour (April, May, June 2008) saw the band's first ever concerts in France and Lithuania, as well as Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Japan and their first UK shows in 6 years. Also included were several festival appearances, including two performances at Wave Gothik Treffen (Leipzig, Germany), a Hexennacht festival at Schloss Burg Castle (Solingen, Germany), Kunigunda Lunaria (Vilnius, Lithuania) and the 3 Wishes Faery Festival in Cornwall (UK).
The April/May 2009 Tour included shows in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and the Czech Republic and included a special guest appearance on stage with renown Australian ethereal singer Louisa John-Krol at Trolls et Légendes Festival (Mons, BE), concerts with labelmates Brillig and the 10 Jahre K17/10 Jahre Black Rain celebration at K17 (Berlin). Later in 2009 the band also played at Menuo Juodaragis (Lithuania's largest alternative music festival), Summer Darkness (NL), toured Germany and Poland with fellow Australians Ikon and settled down in Berlin to record the new album.
Following the European release of their previous album ~An Inexact Science~ (Sept 2006, Ars Musica Diffundere/Black Rain) Dandelion Wineundertook their third tour of Europe. The tour included shows in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands and Portugal and featured an extremely successful performance at Wave Gothic Treffen in Leipzig DE. This tour also included the band's first ever shows in Japan.
Similarly, since the Australian release of ~An Inexact Science~ (Aug 2006, Crustacean Creations/Reverberation) Dandelion Wine have undertaken four tours of Australia (Vic, NSW, QLD, SA, WA) in late 2006, 2007 & 2008.
On the back of their earlier CD Light Streaming Down, Dandelion Wine had already toured Europe twice, playing in the UK, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Netherlands and Romania. On top of this, they have built a following in their native Australia through extensive live performance as well as TV, alternative radio and press coverage. The range of venues that have played host to Dandelion Wine live shows is a testament to the diversity of the bands music and audience from indie pubs, goth clubs, folk festivals, arts centers and even the occasional metal club.
Prior to the release of 'Light Streaming Down' Dandelion Wine's local Australian releases consist of 'Tunguska Butterfly' (album, 2000), 'Cat' (single, 2001) and 'ReJiggered' (remixes, 2002).
Fan video from Menuo Juodaragis, Lithuania 2009 :
Tour Diary Video from April/May 2009:
Dandelion Wine live at the Schauspielhaus theatre Wave Gotik Treffen, Leipzig, Germany 2007 :
"Band's eye view" of Kunigunda Lunaria, Vilnius LT 2008
