Australia's Xavier Rudd readies Anti debut

Xavier Rudd – the acclaimed Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist – will release the follow up to his acclaimed Anti- debut, Food In The Belly on June 19th. Titled White Moth, the disc finds Rudd speaking out against his country’s Aboriginal land right policies which have led to the wholesale displacement and mis treatment of its indigenous people.

“This album reflects my journey up to this point,” explains the Australian born, Rudd. “Over the last few years I’ve been gifted strong connections with some powerful old spirits from parts of this earth and some have offered their voice and sacred knowledge of their ancestors to this album. Which for me is an honour beyond words.”

In advance of the disc, titled White Moth, Rudd is confirmed for a Bonnaroo performance on Saturday, June 16th.

Xavier and co-producer Dave Ogilvie (David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and N.E.R.D.) recorded the bulk of White Moth in the woods of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast at Gggarth Richardson’s studio, The Farm. However, the disc counts the voices of Aboriginal people captured in Arnhem Land – to the northeast of Australia’s Northern Territory – and boasts members of the esteemed Aboriginal musical group Yothu Yindi on a number of tracks.

Joined by percussionist Dave Tolley – a guest on Food In The Belly turned new addition to Rudd’s line up – White Moth also finds guest player Panos Grames (who lent his wares to Food In The Belly track “Mother Earth” and is the right hand man to esteemed Canadian environmental scientist and activist David Suzuki) in tow. First Nations Cree elder Kennitch also traveled from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to the White Moth sessions and can be heard lending traditional healing prayers and drum to “Foot Print” and “Message stick.”

“[Rudd] offers a strikingly original mix of music,” The Boston Globe wrote of Food In The Belly. “Some of his sound (and idealism) echoes the surf-folk of Jack Johnson, while his Weissenborn guitar-playing evokes Ben Harper. But mostly, Rudd is on a plateau of his own, playing a one-man blend of guitars, Yidaki (didgeridoos), stomp box and various percussion. Expect this album to crack some top 10 lists.”

Meanwhile, Jambands.com said, “the Australian troubadour’s stripped-down approach conjures up images of some dude you know entertaining friends around the campfire… Such is the intimate quality of Rudd’s music.” To which, All Music Guide added, “Xavier Rudd is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist with simple, yet profound, thoughts on life to impart.”

Xavier Rudd’s previous albums, Solace (2004) and the aforementioned Food In The Belly (2005) earned platinum and gold sales certifications in Australia. His DVD Good Spirit (2006), counting footage from his sold out April 14, 2004 show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, was just recently certified gold in Australia.