Bio

Based in Melbourne, Australia, The Merlin Bird meld a variety of musical influences into an atmospheric whole. Their work contains elements of rock, folk and classical music, combined with lyrics that explore the worldly, the esoteric and the downright unfathomable.

While previous predictions of band membership numbering in the millions have proven incorrect, the mathematical function used to calculate this has now been revised to show an arithmetical growth rate rather than an exponential one. The Merlin Bird are prepared to donate themselves to science should further studies on these principles be required, although given their hourly rate for participating in medical experiments, "donate" is probably too loose a term.


Personnel

Birdies present

Geoff Dawes is distantly related to George W. Bush, in the same sense that Humpty Dumpty is distantly related to Mount Everest. He sings, plays keyboards and guitar, and divides his time between contemplating the inner mysteries of the universe and mowing the lawn. (That's Geoff, not Humpty Dumpty.)

Daniel Moloney played guitar and keyboards both, before settling on life as a drummer. His hobby is saving the world from cosmic disaster, although on weekends he watches TV, so Saturdays and Sundays you're on your own.

Birdies past

Shakira Searle is the only Merlin Birdy who is currently immortal - a condition that is expected to last almost as long as she does. When not singing (rather divinely), she indulges her lifelong passion for Destiny Ball - the Astral plane's most popular competitive sport. For those of you that know the game, she plays Transcendental Mediator, which is sort of like a goalkeeper for extra-dimensional thought.

David O'Toole has spent a number of lives as a cat, before electing to incarnate as a guitarist. He still tends to claw the curtains when he's had too much coffee, although these days he usually prefers a plain saucer of milk ( - slightly warmed.)

Jessica Nabb is the direct descendant of one the world's oldest wizarding families, although they naturally keep this pretty quiet after all those nasty witch-burning episodes a few centuries back. Without wanting to sound too cute, her singing and songs do indeed have a magic all their own, although this impression could well be due to a subtly executed Charm spell whenever she plays.

Mark Kral is studying to be a god. The course usually lasts a number of lifetimes, however, so while he is completing the undergraduate program he has chosen to spend an incarnation or two mastering the bass guitar. On attaining his deification he is hoping to be made God of Amplifiers. Failing that, he will either go for God of Cutlery, or become an all-powerful music critic.

Dylan Stevenson bestrides the landscape of the human mind like a veritable colossus. Leaping chasms of paradox with a single bound, he is usually to be found exploring the uttermost fringes of mental dilemma and discontinuity armed with nothing but a bass guitar and a Lonely Planet Guidebook to the Subconcious. Mind you, he probably doesn't wash his car as often as he should, but you can't have everything.

Birdy Friends

Beck Sian Robson is the kind of unofficial band member. She lives in a different country than the rest of us, so would probably be more "un" than "official" if she did not regularly attend rehearsals via psychic projection. Beck did most of the female vocals on the Reason and Rhyme CD, and is cousin once removed to English rock diva Kate Bush. (Oddly enough, that's actually true.) She is also one of the few human beings able to spontaneously levitate. (Although, to be honest, we've never really put that last bit to the test.)

Instant Interview
The following information can be freely copied and reproduced in any publication or journal.

Following their 2007 shows in Europe, Melbourne band The Merlin Bird are returning to the studio to record their second CD, tentatively titled "Chapter and Verse".

"The great thing about rock is that there really are no limits" says singer Geoff Dawes."Where else could we put bits of Grand Opera and acoustica beside overdriven guitars and still have it work?"

Drummer Dan Moloney agrees: "We seem to have ended up with a pretty distinctive sort of sound. There are certain trademarks I suppose - the multi-layering of the tracks and the occasional odd time signature - but somehow we just never seem to sound like anyone else."

You can hear their songs at www.myspace.com/merlinbird, or order their new Reason and Rhyme CD via www.merlinbird.com.au or www.cdbaby.com.

Instant Images
The following links provide hi resolution versions of the Reason and Rhyme album cover. These and the band photo, above, can also be freely reproduced in any publication or journal. They absolutely cannot be used by dartboard manufacturers however, nor by people producing posters with words like "Wanted Dead Or Alive" on them.

Reason and Rhyme
Hi resolution colour
Hi resolution b/w