EARTHED PRESS RELEASE

"MOST BOOKS ARE WRITTEN IN LINEAR FASHION A-B-C-D-ETC.., MINE IS Z-Q-X-M-ETC.."--Steve Kilbey.

For months, fans and critics alike have been eagerly awaiting the promised book of prose-poetry by singer, songwriter and now poet--Steve Kilbey. The wait is over. EARTHED has been released and is available through selected independent record stores and mailorder.

"IT'S A STORY WITHIN A STORY WITHOUT A STORY."

EARTHED is a diverse collection of prose written by Steve over the past year and is an example of the automatic writing technique which attempts to reconcile reality and the dream state.

"BASICALLY THERE WAS A NEED TO EXPLORE MY OWN SUBCONSCIOUS AND HOPEFULLY EXPLORE THE COLLECTIVE SUBCONSCIOUS OF THE HUMAN RACE, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WROTE THE BOOK...ANOTHER WAS TO IMPRESS GIRLS IN NIGHTCLUBS," Steve explained.

EARTHED, the self financed 69 page book, is the first and only book to ever be written by an Australian musician, which is not surprising as it comes from Steve Kilbey, one of Australia's most literate songwriters. It also is the first book in the world to have its own soundtrack.

Co-inciding with the book launch is a second solo album from Steve, also titled "Earthed," a selection of 20 instrumental pieces with a playing time of an hour. Released through Red Eye Records, it is available at all good independent record stores.

Steve believes that once people have read the book they may want to listen to the album in the same way some people who have seen a movie may want to buy the soundtrack. It's not so much an album to read poetry by but an album to enhance one's thoughts after reading his prose.

"IT'S A SERIES OF FREEZE FRAMES OF THOUGHT PROCESSES AS ONE MIGHT SLOW DOWN A VIDEO AND LOOK AT EACH RANDOM FRAME."

An initial run of 2,000 books has been completed, with another run possible according to demand.

The book sells for $12.00 while the EARTHED album is priced at $13.99. All mailorders ($12 including postage and handling--Cheques made out to Steve Kilbey) addressed to Allyson Moore at GPO Box 2977, Sydney 2001 NSW.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS, REVIEW COPIES AND PHOTOS PLEASE CONTACT ALLYSON MOORE AT MULTI-MEDIA ON (02) 212 6677, FAX (02) 212 6897 and Email - JND248 (MEDIA-AA).

"EARTHED" is the result of nearly a year's effort. Steve Kilbey decided to self-publish his poetry book rather than go through the 'straight' world of book publishing, much like making an independent record and opting away from the major record companies. Yet he used the high-tech approach of portable computers and electronic mail to assemble the book with his office back in Sydney while he was on the road or just around the corner at home.

While many other musicians spend their time at the bar or beach, Steve Kilbey mastered a small Tandy 100 portable computer to absorb his voluminous writing--song lyrics and prose poetry. While on tour, the intensity of feeling prompted by playing to packed houses spurred him to return to the hotel at night after the gig and tap away his thoughts and emotions. Sometimes, he'd lay awake and, capturing a significant mind-frame, pull the computer into bed, typing away before sleep set in.

The entire book was done on computer, often from transcribed notes from years past on napkins, scraps of paper or the backs of fan mail. The poetry was sent via a computer link with the home office so that no matter where Steve was on the road--Australia, US, UK or Europe--the flow of poetry would be zapped with precision and regularity to the staff in Sydney who would assemble it into a format ready for eventual publication. Individual poems were sent from pay phones in airport waiting lounges, from hotel phones across the world late at night and from Steve's house just a couple of miles from the office.

Allyson Moore at Multi-Media would capture the day's writing and transfer to disc after editing the occasional spelling error or computer glitch, storing the poems for the day that they would be put into order and readied for the typesetter.

After several months of this international data transfer of poetic sensitivity, the day came for sorting through the thousands of words and determining their order. A computer disc of the final array was sent to the typesetter Anna Pappas and final preparations for the typestyle, paper quality, cover art, and binding were made. For lasting quality, glue binding was decided on for the 69 page book and the most expensive and durable matte paper was ordered. The shiny cover was not laminated, rather it was waxed after printing to keep off fingerprints.

After a few weeks, the final product was ready and we proudly present "EARTHED" along with its accompanying album of instrumental music which was assembled especially for the project by Red Eye Records.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS, REVIEW COPIES OR PHOTOS--CONTACT--Allyson Moore, Multi-Media (02) 212-6677, FAX (02) 212-6897 Email--MEDIA-AA