Stroud

"The Amulet of Samarkand", "The Golem's Eye", "Ptolemy's Gate",

Fresh from Perth's most prolific percussion den, we're proud to introduce GCR006: The keenly-awaited debut LP from local rhythm magician Phil Stroud. Presented in an absorbing listening arc and captured with crystal clarity, this self-titled slow burner is an artful and meditative journey, filled out with straight-up danceable joy.
In just over an hour, Stroud leads a pilgrimage through intricate landscapes of percussive beauty. There's the restrained, hypnotic approach of Ritual and Tribe in amongst organic house workouts with rich orchestrations. Nimble vocal motifs and shimmering flutes ride the hefty grooves of The Birds, Scintillating and Outside as field recordings surprise and delight. Fix a glass of punch in time for the smooth, melodic neo-exotica of Flow. And as the physical plane fades away, lose yourself in the shimmering ambience of Middle East, a mellow final act recalling the more mystic moods of Alice Coltrane.

Recorded at his home in Huntsville, Ontario, on the shore of its namesake
lake, Bittern Lake represents Stroud’s favorite way of making music: “live off the floor, no overdubs, everybody in one room, all at one time. The musicians I bring along, they just fall in love with the process.” Those musicians on Bittern Lake include members of Stroud’s longtime backing band, the Campfire Kings, as well as singer-songwriters Oh Susanna and Justin Rutledge, ace session drummer Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) and Cuban-Canadian guitar wizard Elmer Ferrer.

Recorded at his home in Huntsville, Ontario, on the shore of its namesake
lake, Bittern Lake represents Stroud’s favorite way of making music: “live off the floor, no overdubs, everybody in one room, all at one time. The musicians I bring along, they just fall in love with the process.” Those musicians on Bittern Lake include members of Stroud’s longtime backing band, the Campfire Kings, as well as singer-songwriters Oh Susanna and Justin Rutledge, ace session drummer Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) and Cuban-Canadian guitar wizard Elmer Ferrer.