New album and tour from Ashtray Electric

"Measured in Falls" introduces Ashtray Electric's new musical progression. It is not merely a collection of songs; it is an album in the full sense of the word. The album contains 11 brand new tracks, as well as their popular single Release (with Gazelle) as a bonus track.

Lyrically the new songs touch on the concept of truth and deception and the tools such as manipulation that come along with it. "With growing up, these are our closest everyday concepts that we deal with that define who we become/want to be," - AGMP.

DNA album cover

The album cover shot features actual DNA strands of the band members. Each band member had the inside of their cheeks swabbed with an ear bud. The epithelial (skin cell) tissue extracted from each member was lysed (breaking down of the cell wall) to expose the entire genetic genome into the lysed material. The DNA was then purified from all other cellular bodies and amplified using PCR technology. Each sample of DNA was then cut using a cocktail of enzymes and run in separate lanes on a Electrophoresis Gell giving rise to the four smears witnessed on the image. The broken bands in the fifth lane is a simple molecular weight marker.

Tour dates

* Saturday, 11 June: The Assembly, 61 Harrington Street, District 6, Cape Town. Cover charge: Limited edition pre-sale R40 tickets available at www.webtickets.co.za. R50 at the door. Time: 10pm.

* Friday, 15 July: MK Sessions at Volksblad Fees. Address: TBC, Bloemfontein

* Saturday, 16 July: Arcade Empire, Hans Strijdom Drive, Pretoria. Bands start: 9pm. Other acts: Wrestlerish

* Thursday, 21 July: Memphis Rock, 12 Esselen Street, Die Bult, Potchefstroom. Cover charge: Free
Bands start: 9.30pm.

* Friday, 22 July: Town Hall, 66 Carr Street, Newtown, Johannesburg. Other acts: Wrestlerish

* Saturday, 23 July: Unit 11, 191 Matthews Meyiwa, Durban. Other acts: The La Els

* Wednesday, 27 July: Klein Libertas Teater, Bergzicht Plein, Du Toit Street, Stellenbosch

* Thursday, 28 July: The Union, Steve Biko Building, Prince Alfred Street, Grahamstown

* Friday, 29 July: Raggies Bar, Shop 22/23, Sporgs Centre, Beacon Bay, East London
* Saturday, 30 July: Pool City, Times Square Building, c/o Heugh & 5th Avenue, Port Elizabeth

Facebook: AshtrayElectric
Twitter: @AshtrayElectric
Website: www.ashtrayelectric.co.za