New Shamen LP - Axis Mutatis

Here it comes, across the stars, eating planets, sucking the energy out of
galaxies and suns; here it comes, a vast transcosmic vortex where rituals,
seductions, new religions, fakirs, palaces, snake charmers, warriors,
poets, thieves, shrines, icons, drugs, magicians, ancient spirits, monks,
madmen and magnificences and things too fearsome to be recounted, all
splashing, writhing, cascading and spinning; vast, complex, inexhaustible,
forever

Here it comes, gnawing volts, drunk on photons, high on delicacies, Axis
Mutatis, the new album by The Shamen.

It's been two years since The Shamen released Boss Drum and sold over a
million records. Twenty four months since they proved that perfect pop,
chemical techno and cosmic knowledge can be one and the same. Now these
Shamanic lords of deep misrule are back with the release of Axis Mutatis
on Monday 23rd October 1995.

Axis Mutatis is a Zen master to Boss Drum's gentle novice. The spiritual
and musical gulf between the two records is so huge you cannot measure it.
Axis Mutatis recognises no boundaries, limits or walls. Axis Mutatis is
neither a normal pop nor a regular dance record. To listen to Axis Mutatis 
is to sink in star waters, be washed in midnight syrups, to dance to ancient
rhythms, watch pictures swirl inside your head and sing-a-long to
irresistible tunes. It is everything: alpha, omega, underground,
commercial and eternal.

Axis Mutatis was created by original Shamen member Colin Angus with
partner Mr C, engineer Brian Pugsley and new female vocalist, she-devil,
amazon, 7ft techno queen and ex Soul II Soul singer, Victoria Wilson
James. In Colin's words Axis Mutatis has a "Post ambient, post techno.
post dance, post everything sound." It's lyrics speak of lost religions,
timeless wonders and old gods: it's music sounds like a catalytic laser to
oxidise the passion sleeping unaware in a violet.

Axis Mutatis has 13 tracks written by The Shamen and for a limited period
will be sold with the group's ambient interpretation of it's songs called
Arbor Bona Arbor Mala. While the two albums are on sale together they'll
be available as quadruple vinyl, double cassette and double CD. Once the
limited edition stock has been sold Axis Mutatis will be available on it's
own. Artwork for the LP has been created by the UK's leading Computer
artist, William Latham and his images and animation will be integrated
into The Shamen's videos.

The band themselves are currently maintaining the Shamen Net-Site Nemeton
(Celtic for meeting place)  an electronic virtual space containing Shamen
information & resources. Moo bar.hemp comix. newsgroup access. SW for
converting DNA into midi files & other goodies.Exclusive multimedia
releases. Virtuali t-rooms,lotsa pix & cool graffix.

In August , the Shamen released the first single from AXIS MUTATIS
exclusively  through the net, and continue their online activities with
another netfirst and exclusive - an interactive LP promo web document
released on 15.10.95 previewing musical samples from the LP, alongside
contextual information relating to  lyrical themes of Axis Mutatis, in 
the form of text, images, video & animation.

To achieve the marvellous it is precisely the unthinkable that must be
thought. The Shamen: futuristic, ancient, interactive, psychedelic and
poptastic.


For further information
UK Press - please contact Joe   joe@indian.co.uk or Christina
chris@indian.co.uk
International- Niki     niki@indian.co.uk   or OLI on Fx.  44 (0)171 924 4274
US Press-     Melani_Rogers@sonymusic.com   Fx 001 212 833 5719
Bookings UK & ROW - Ian Huffam @ Wasted Talent
Booking US & Canada - Gerry Gerrad @ Artistes & audience  
ARTANDAUD@aol.com
Fx 001(212) 721-0115
Representaion- Moksha management   charles@moksha.demon.co.uk      Fx 44
(0)181 519 6834




Axis Mutatis Web document - Hypertextual Shamen Resource
=========================

The new Shamen albums "Axis Mutatis"  & "Arbor Bona Arbor Mala" will be
accompanied by the release of a special World Wide Web "mix" of the album
that will give Internet users the ability to explore many of the themes 
dealt with by the new music.

The Web document, to be released a week before the new Shamen album is
available in the shops, will contain sound samples of the tracks on 
"Axis Mutatis", song lyrics, photographs of the band and other exclusive 
Shamen materials. However, it will not just be a promotional exercise. The
document will also contain factual material about the issues relating to
the music on "Axis Mutatis". There will be information about environmental
issues provided by Greenpeace. The UK's leading expert on Shamanism - Leo
Rutherford, will contribute images & text, the work of computer artist
William Latham who has produced the artwork for "Axis Mutatis" will be on 
display, and the Criminal Justice Act and other topics of interest to the 
band will be represented

Sean Clark, the Web designer who is working with the Shamen on the project
says, "the goal of the 'Axis Mutatis' Web document is to *inform* as well
as promote the new music. The Web entry for each track will contain
background information on the issues being explored as well as contact
addresses for related pressure groups and other organisations." He 
adds, "I think it can be seen as a unique addition to the album."

The document, which is just the latest in a series of Internet activities
involving the Shamen, will be available at the Shamen's "Nemeton" Web site
at http://www.drci.co.uk/drci/shamen/ from 15th October 95  It is hoped that
this Web release be even more successful than the release of "Destination
Eschaton" on the Internet, which led to thousands of Shamen fans from
around the world generating an astonishing 50,000 'hits' on Nemeton 
during the week prior to the release of the single.

Some future projects:-

"CHROMOZONE". SHAMEN / LATHAM 50 minute computer Animation and Music VHS 
video.  (in progress).

Future Latham products.

"Organic Art". CD Rom. Real Time 3D Image Generator and Screensaver.
Computer Art of William Latham.
Developer Computer Artworks Ltd.
Published by Warner Interactive. Release date Spring 1996.
For further info. Ring 44 (0)171 391 4300. Fax. 44 (0)171 391 4349

