After reviewing Flea's debut it's only logical to continue with another solo album more interesting than the recent output of the artist's main band. Enter King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard drummer Michael "Cavs" Cavanagh!
CAVS - Sojourn (Clear Orange vinyl LP) (2026)
Ok, maybe writing this would have been the right occasion to finally give King Gizzard's last two studio albums a proper listen. On the other hand I just can't bother. What I heard of their respective singles felt so Dad Rock that I still don't feel any motivation to do so. But now, a relative eternity of three years after "The Silver Chord (Extended Mix)" there's finally some exciting studio material from the Australians' camp again, even though it only involves their drummer - and Joey Walker on bass.
Not to downplay the skills and importance of other more front and center members like Stu or Amby, but the secret most valuable player of KGLW has always been the drummer, without whose endurance, prowess and increasingly in the pocket beats the whole genre-switching shtick of the band simply wouldn't work as successfully as it does.
On "Sojourn" the drum grooves are unmissable, his clean snare and hi-hat-heavy style unmistakable and maybe most reminiscent of what he did on "Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava". But even though the cover artwork might suggest that, and Cavs is aided by more drums and percussion, performed by co-producer and engineer Jim Rindfleish and conga player Robyn Poppins, this album is not some exclusive rhythm-only Afro-Beat thing like for example the self-titled debut of Klaus Weiss' Niagara.
It is however clearly an instrumental Jazz thing, a funky Fusion fest - yet it also doesn't deny Cavanagh's Psychedelic roots. So all in all these ten tracks - all filled with rich textures and melodies of guitars, piano, keys, saxophones, flute, harp and more - are an inspiring, vitalizing source of feel-good vibes.
Cavs and company cite Jazz Rock, Kraut and Latin music of the 1970's, yet make it sound young and excited like a freshly hatched bird of paradise. In terms of recent artists this album scratches an itch similar to Cazayoux and parts of Ivan The Tolerable's oeuvre for me. An easy but not shallow pleasure trip to the inner happy place.
The typical (p)doom Records packaging and the clear orange vinyl with not even a label blocking the transparence in the middle are a nice touch adding to my enjoyment of this spiritually stimulating delight of a record. It might take a while - and potentially several albums - for that Lizard Wizard to exceed the bar set here.
Not to downplay the skills and importance of other more front and center members like Stu or Amby, but the secret most valuable player of KGLW has always been the drummer, without whose endurance, prowess and increasingly in the pocket beats the whole genre-switching shtick of the band simply wouldn't work as successfully as it does.
On "Sojourn" the drum grooves are unmissable, his clean snare and hi-hat-heavy style unmistakable and maybe most reminiscent of what he did on "Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava". But even though the cover artwork might suggest that, and Cavs is aided by more drums and percussion, performed by co-producer and engineer Jim Rindfleish and conga player Robyn Poppins, this album is not some exclusive rhythm-only Afro-Beat thing like for example the self-titled debut of Klaus Weiss' Niagara.
It is however clearly an instrumental Jazz thing, a funky Fusion fest - yet it also doesn't deny Cavanagh's Psychedelic roots. So all in all these ten tracks - all filled with rich textures and melodies of guitars, piano, keys, saxophones, flute, harp and more - are an inspiring, vitalizing source of feel-good vibes.
Cavs and company cite Jazz Rock, Kraut and Latin music of the 1970's, yet make it sound young and excited like a freshly hatched bird of paradise. In terms of recent artists this album scratches an itch similar to Cazayoux and parts of Ivan The Tolerable's oeuvre for me. An easy but not shallow pleasure trip to the inner happy place.
The typical (p)doom Records packaging and the clear orange vinyl with not even a label blocking the transparence in the middle are a nice touch adding to my enjoyment of this spiritually stimulating delight of a record. It might take a while - and potentially several albums - for that Lizard Wizard to exceed the bar set here.
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