Simon Wade guitar, keys
Trent Horwood drums
David Charlton guitar
Craig Fryers bass, bowed bass
with visual projections by Chris 'Vlad the Impaler' Andrews
Photos by Herve
"400 & Falling" live, Feb 2009
"Graven Image" videoclip
"Pigeons" videoclip
"Graven Image" by Mushroom Giant for surf comp promo
Influences
Some of the bands we've gigged with:
The Dead Salesmen, The Mavis's, The Fat Thing, Non-Intentional Lifeforms, Dandelion Wine, Aquitaine, Wendy Rule, Great Southern Electrics, Peeping Tom (Aus), Subaudible Hum, Spider Goat Canyon, Fire Witch, Dr Invisiablo, Sydonia, Silverchair, Hinge, Devil Rock Four, Dallas Crane, Prajna, Kinematic, International Karate, Seascapes of the Interior, The Night Terrors, Winterun, Rollerball, Alaska Ratio, Long Walk Home, Dread, Ahkmed, Allan Campbell, Sleep Parade, Mammal, Self is a Seed, Rincon, Superb Lyrebird, MM9, Ohana, The Knives of Neptune, Catnip, The Boy Who Spoke Clouds, The Black Hundred, Radiant City, Slight of Build, Best Wishes, A State of Flux, Love is Science Fiction, Cycas Revoluta, Taste The Venom, Me, Matt Kelly & The Keepers, Meniscus, Sleepmakeswaves, Los Alamos, Rook, Bellusira, Template, Engine Three Seven, Tinman, Geamala, Digani Gaciga, A Planet In Space, Varliiba, Milique, The Beautiful Burn, Dive Into Ruin, Purple Elephant, New Born, Ne Obliviscaris, Twelve Foot Ninja, The Eternal, Bonjah, Nucleus, Pirate, Eleventh He Reaches London, HEIRS, Aeon of Horus, Alarum and I Am Duckeye
Sounds Like
The theory behind the Mushroom Giant sound is for four creative musicians with different influences to get loose and improvise for long periods, record the jam, highlight the good stuff and then compose the songs around those ideas.
Mushroom Giant has always approached music as an artform with most of their songs coming about via hours of improvisation and experimentation, and with their 2008 release “Kuru" they have earned their tag as one of Australia’s premier instrumental bands. Their live performances transcend the conventional rock band with mesmerising compositions ranging from delicate shifts in shade to intensely exerted barrages of howling guitars and drums, and dramatically supported by visual projections of stunning imagery that thoughtfully complement each song.
"Kuru" - $20 (2008 release, 11 tracks, 60 mins) Kuru was released in February 2008 offering an engrossing listening experience; a 60-minute journey through up-tempo grooves and intricately-layered soundscapes to dark, cavernous compositions and bone-shaking riffs. The album was written with the notion of a cannibalistic human ancestory with a fictional tale of an alluring 4,000 year old bisexual vampiress living in modern day Manhattan (courtesy of acclaimed author Whitley Strieber).
"Rails" - $15 (2003 release, 12 tracks, 74 mins) Rails, released in February 2003, was Mushroom Giant's David Lynch inspired debut album featuring a diverse array of compositions including two tracks with vocals by David Gogerly. Originally planned as an EP the concept grew with experiments in recording techniques at various locations including an improvised 20-minute psychedelic rollercoaster (Ballarat Train) and the band's seminal instrumental track "Untitled".
Mushroom Giant play Pyramid Rock Festival, New Year's Eve 2006
R E V I E W S
• BEAT MAGAZINE 'Album of the Week' (20/2/08)
"... Crescendos are used to great effect throughout Kuru to build tension and elevate mood. In addition to the standard drums, bass and guitars, Mushroom Giant utilise pedal effects, violins and keys to give depth and dynamics. This is no more evident than on Iron Tang, Pigeons and Woman Heroin. In what would’ve fitted nicely on the Braveheart soundtrack, Autumn Leaves The Dead gives a feeling of walking through open fields, flanked by mountains, with the breeze brushing over long grass.
The gentle, light-filled first part to Kuru is just the calm before the storm. As the waves dive into the undertow and guitars begin to drop, chop and churn. The track Kuru holds a thunder-filled Sabbath drone while Poor Tom is truly the eye of the storm. Its schizo riffs and foot-to-the-floor drumwork are a force to behold."
"... Mushroom Giant have been quietly perfecting their art over the past five years, and their proficiency is evident on Kuru. Evoking comparisons to Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mono - bands who often teeter on the edge of out-and-out metal but also have a quieter, subtle side - Kuru is a rollercoaster ride from start to end.
In the album opener "Graven Image", one of post-rock's signature techniques is employed: gradually threading a melody into a repetitive rhythm, building closer and closer towards a crescendo. The difference here is in the upbeat, pounding drumbeat that drives the song at a speedy pace, making the song more dance-rock than post-rock. A crushing, distorted guitar effect in the final 20 seconds of the track offers one of many headbanging opportunities to come for those so inclined."
"... This is what Mushroom Giant do best: project moods, paint scenes and tell stories, all purely using music, and without any lyrics. This is a rare skill.
Kuru is a truly deep album, one not easily judged after a single listen, but one that becomes more rewarding with each listen. Give it the time and space it needs to show itself to you, and the album's beauty will make itself evident."
BRAD DIXON www.ozprog.com/reviews/music/view/37 • THE SILENT BALLET (USA) (26/4/08)
"Their sound sits right on the line between rock and metal, spacey and earthy. As they straddle these variables, multitudes of combinations produce great variety in the album, probably best shown in Poor Tom, which quickly switches from shred metal to spacey ambience again and again. Easily the heaviest song on the album, it provides a great change from the rather subdued nature of the middle of the album.
“Kuru is perhaps the song that sounds most like its concept, conveying the delirious, degenerative nature of the disease. Autumn Leaves the Dead is a pleasant yet energetic song that clearly contrasts Poor Tom in its beauty, despite the desolate implications of its title. Clean guitars and near-Oriental sounding violin melodies work beautifully together."
www.thesilentballet.com "The guitarists complement each other with wonderfully expressive, layered guitar playing while the rhythm section gives each song amazing depth and density. Songs like Pigeons and Autumn Leaves The Dead are beautiful, haunting compositions ..." BEIGE BARON, BEAT MAGAZINE
"Intrigued. Great rollicking piece of nu-prog. Look forward to hearing more ..." RICHARD KINGSMILL, TRIPLE J
Hey hey! Hows things? Need some live music to kick off your weekend? Friday 14th August will see Creech hit the stage for their 'Lazy' Video/Single Launch @ Revolver Upstairs! Special guests are Daddys Little Girl, Winterun & Spasticator! ***TICKETS SELLING FAST*** So get in quick! Available from Moshtix outlets or Moshtix online www.moshtix.com.au
man i love your cd im in owe with it fucking awesome man i love it so much and im getting a bunch of friends to listen and they like it so hopefully they will come to your concerts with me :)
This film clip was made by Glass Kingdom
Films! Please visit www.belladonnathemovie.com
to see their feature film to be released later this year with Lamplight
appearing in the film and on the sound track!
We've got this, like, awesome show coming up in, like afew weeks with all these other, like, awesome bands and it would be, like, totally rad and, like, awesome if you could come along.
Thanks for the support! Hopefully we can eradicate this mediocre hardcore scene here in Melbourne and bring back true metal!
Spread the word of this page by either adding our banner to your page (which you can find the code for on our page, and removing the dots after the open HTML tags), adding us to your top friends or just posting a bulletin telling people to add us.
Sons of Abraham are playing their first Headline show at The Ding Dong Lounge next Friday 10th July with guests The Committal, Rainbird & Anember. Sons onstage at 11pm. Hope you can make it.
Hey Boys long time no speak hope your all well.....craig when you get a chance send thru your number so I can give you a buzz(lost all my numbers)be great to catch up.... good 2 c you guys still kickin ass...
DEADHEADS GET READY TO PARTY HEARTY WITH FAMILY GROOVE COMPANY~ROOTSTAND~IFDAKAR,AND MORE! Hey now! The 3Gs ('aka Grateful Garcia Gathering), is returning back to the Camp NCN Venue in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin July 30th though August 2nd 2009 where it all began over 6 years ago! A grateful place where Garcia fans will be gathering! It also marks the celebration of Jerry Garcia's 67th Birthday, plus the 14th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing. We have leased the campground venue for July 30th though August 3rd 2009 for our 6th annual music festival.
Other great music festivals have hosted at this venue such as Weedstock, Farmapalooza, Big Wu Family Reunion, Campout Roots Festival,just to name a few!
Artists included: Family Groove Company, Rootstand, Ifdakar, Boney Fingers, Baghdad SCUBA Review, Fungus Garden Reverb, Jam and the Playground Kids, In the Dark, MMC Trio, Elf Lettuce, Vinny Weible & Soul Logic, Groovitational Pull, The Reggie, Grateful Beth and the Volunteers, The Bar Tab Band, John Statz, Mr. Cab Driver, Brok'n Arrow, Greyleaf, and more Jambands to be added soon!
Our friends at Mystix Toyz will be on board at the 3G's for tons of family fun with juggling demonstrations, including juggling workshops, face painting, kids parades, plus drum circles and fire dance jams every night
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