Despite a three-year break between albums, Australian trio Something For Kate’s “Desert Light” debuted at No. 1 on the Motorola Australian Recording Industry Assn. (ARIA) chart this week.
It has been certified gold, having shifted at least 35,000 units, according to the band’s label Sony BMG Music Entertainment Australia.
“It’s gratifying to see such a result just one single in,” Jonathan Williamson, managing director of the band’s Melbourne-based Art & Commerce Management, tells Billboard.biz.
The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Brad Wood (Ben Lee, Smashing Pumpkins and Liz Phair) during the northern winter after delays caused by guitarist Paul Dempsey’s writer’s block and depression.
The band set up the album’s release with two tours Down Under. The first took place in May and June in intimate clubs. A 20-date national tour will take place Aug. 30 to Oct. 13.
Something For Kate knocked off another Australian release, Eskimo Joe’s “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” (Mushroom/Warner), which also debuted at No. 1 four weeks ago.
The last time homegrown talent topped the ARIA albums chart back-to-back was in May 2000 when rock band Killing Heidi’s “Reflector” (Wah Wah/Sony BMG) was knocked off by female pop vocal act Bardot’s self-titled album (Warner).
This week also saw the Sleepy Jackson’s sophomore album “Personality – One Was a Spider, One Was a Bird” (EMI/Capitol) debut at No. 10. Its debut album “Lovers” peaked at No. 1.
