DOWNPATRICK, Ireland (Top40 Charts/ Ash Official Website) - With 18 Top 40 UK hits, Ash are one of the most successful 'singles bands' of recent times, consistently bothering charts and airwaves with their distinctive, lovable and inventive pop.
In 2007 Ash released the album 'Twilight Of The Innocents', bequeathed another brace of hit singles 'You Can't Have It All' and 'Polaris,' before promptly announcing they would no longer release albums. Heralding a new approach to record releases, the ultimate singles band will now deliver the ultimate singles collection - a year-long series of fortnightly single releases, with limited edition collectors vinyl.
For the past year they have been holed up in their New York HQ, Atomic Heart Studios, writing and recording a series of songs that will form what Ash is calling the A-Z series.
Starting in October, every two weeks for the next twelve months, Ash will release one single on limited 7' vinyl and digital download...starting with 'A' and ending at 'Z', all 26 songs will be released on Ash's own Atomic Heart Records and will be available through shops and by subscription through the band's website.
Ash kick off this series with a bonus track (not one of the forthcoming 26 songs) - the Mark Hamilton penned song 'Return of White Rabbit.'
Fans can currently download this song free of charge on the Ash website, www.ash-official.com and 1000 limited 7' will be made available through mail order and selected independent record shops starting June 8, 2009.
On 'Return of White Rabbit' the band throws angular guitars over electro hooks and growling bass, in a febrile departure from their more recent output. Created with resident engineer Claudius Mittendorfer, this is an urgent and liberating take on classic heart-tugging Ash, indicative of the darker electronic influence across the forthcoming A-Z songs.
The exclusive promo CDs for 'Return of White Rabbit' have been artworked personally by members of the band; Rick's pack of playing cards, Tim's apocalyptic bunny rabbits and Mark's day-glo stencils.
Ash will be playing a few warm up shows before playing the Bloomsbury Ballroom in early June, followed by a number of festivals over the summer.
Ash 2009 tour dates:
Jun 3 - Concorde 2 - Brighton
Jun 4 - Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth (SOLD OUT!)
Jun 6 - Bloomsbury Ballroom - London (SOLD OUT!)
Jun 7 - Bloomsbury Ballroom - London
Jul 3 - Bygdalarm Festival - Norway
Jul 4 - Hop Farm Festival - Kent, UK
Jul 18 - Slottsfjellet Festival - Norway
Jul 25 - Truck Festival - Steventon, UK
Aug 1 - Hevy Music Festival - Kent, UK
