Shrunken Elvis feat. Rich Ruth, Spencer Cullum & Sean Thompson's Weird Ears - Shrunken Elvis (2025) [Hi-Res]

Shrunken Elvis is a Nashville-based instrumental trio formed by Spencer Cullum, Sean Thompson, and Rich Ruth—three seasoned musicians bonded by a shared instinct for exploratory, genre-defying music. The group began on a 2022 European tour supporting Cullum’s solo material, composing on the move in a VW Passat packed with guitars, pedal steel and synths. Back home, they recorded in a makeshift shed studio during winter sessions, capturing the spontaneity and intimacy of their travels.

Cullum, a London-born pedal steel player, has recorded with Angel Olsen and Lambchop, and released solo albums via Full Time Hobby. Thompson came through Nashville’s DIY scene with Gnarwhal and Promised Land Sound before touring with Margo Price. Ruth—known for his immersive solo work on Third Man Records—draws from ambient, post-rock, and spiritual jazz traditions.

Guided by a “no goals, just ideas” philosophy, their debut album lets their instruments dissolve into each other, favouring mood over showmanship. The record nods to Alice Coltrane, Michael Rother, Ashra, and the visual language of ECM sleeves and Kurosawa films. Mixed by Jake Davis (William Tyler) and featuring artwork by Max Kinghorn-Mills (Hollow Hand), it’s a quietly compelling document of instinctive, collaborative creation.



Tracklist:
1 That There's a Strategy
2 Marina pt. 2
3 Mu Receptors
4 K-House
5 Eggs on Plastic
6 An Old Outlet
7 Sun Pillar
8 Every Faint Rustle
9 A Broken Cat