Described in the presser as a “‘Groove’ concept album”, the second solo record by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s drummer, Michael ‘CAVS’ Cavanagh, is best digested in its entirety.
We also strongly recommend you listen while burning nag champa incense.
Whereas CAVS’ eponymous solo debut (2021) was percussion-only, its follow-up is instrumentally lush and expansive, also incorporating field recordings. With its show-offy tempo changes and spontaneous, improvisational quality, only virtuosos could be brought in to execute Soujourn.
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During Soujourn’s creative process, co-producer Jim Rindfleish (Mildlife) has said he noticed these sonic explorations “began to resemble the forms of various mystical and undiscovered flora and fauna”, which totally checks out: within the cohesive palette CAVS has curated, each of the ten sonic explorations blooms into its own separate mysterious entity.
Birdsong and gentle, lapping-wave sounds usher in the opener, Victoria Amazonica, before airy flute and harp juxtaposes bass noodling – by fellow Gizz member Joey Walker – and rhythmic drum accents.
Distant spirit voices – the kind you’d hear while stranded in the bush at the dead of night – beckon throughout lead single Candiru, with its loose drum patterns, locked-in bass and wild, chattering guitar.
Standout track Emerald Nile is transportive, like travelling through unknown territory, awestruck by the scenery. Flute, harp, a sax hook that sounds like a snake charmer’s finest work, meandering bass and bongos – it’s spellbinding stuff.
Death Bat slaps – a bit of a vibe shift, with face-melting riffs.
LABEL: p(doom)
RELEASE: 24 APRIL
