With five acclaimed albums behind him produced with his band, the Drones, Melbourne singer/songwriter Gareth Liddiard is set to unveil his debut solo work on Friday 1 October, with the release of Strange Tourist.

Arguably one of the country’s most respected rock & roll outfits, the Drones took out the inaugural Australian Music Prize for their second effort, 2005’s Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By. Now Liddiard has put down his electric guitar and recorded an album full of atmospheric, raw acoustic tracks, no less compelling or cataclysmic than his electrifying Drones work.

Once again diving into Australian history and myth for inspiration, Liddiard has also delved into the world of current affairs and politics for his latest release, which was recorded in an “isolated mansion” 30 minutes outside of Yass, in regional NSW. Tracks include “The Radicalisation Of D”, which was loosely inspired by the incarceration of Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks. He also takes on the story of tightrope walker Charles Blondin in “Blondin Makes An Omelette” – the tale told, however, from Blondin’s understudy. (Lyrics include: “No one cared for him at all until he crossed Niagara Falls/ So you’d all feel a little lower down the scale… but I ain’t here because he’s tall, I’m only here to see him fall/ And if I get on the wagon now it’ll only be to run him down.”)

Strange Tourist was recorded with engineer Burke Reid, who also laid down the Drones’ most recent LP, 2008’s Havilah. The album will be released by Shock Entertainment.