Cavs “Sojourn” Review
Written by Beau Croxton
Sojourn album cover by Amy Cavs and Sarah Findlay, out 4/24 on p(doom) records.
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: APRIL
King Gizzard drummer Michael “CAVS” Cavanagh’s new foray into musical direction, Sojourn, is an exotic instrumental adventure that takes a mighty swing at funky spiritual-jazz. It’s also an essential record in the extended network of King Gizzard solo albums and side projects.
On his 2021 solo album CAVS, King Gizzard’s drummer Michael “Cavs” Cavanagh took on the ambitious idea of making a record made entirely of his own drums & percussion. Now on 2026’s Sojourn, Cavs takes a very successful turn into musical direction and composition with the help of his friends in Jim Rindfleish and Adam Halliwell (from Australia’s groovy band Mildlife), Joey Walker of King Gizzard on bass, and an assortment of seriously skilled players in the surrounding Melbourne scene.
On this new sophomore LP, Cavs’ music feels akin to spiritual jazz by the way of Herbie Hancock, or some jungle themed LP by Medeski, Martin & Wood. If you're a fan of Mildlife or Gizzard’s more funky, jazzy and chill jams, then you are in for a serious treat. Behind the scenes, Cavs mentioned that he and Rindfleish adopted a visual narrative for the album— it paints the music as the soundtrack of a journey through a tropical island. With all the beautiful and serene rainforest sounds sampled between the delectable funk and jazz, they absolutely transport you there.
“Victoria Amazonica” opens as a major highlight that immerses you in a tropical sound-bath with purring flutes, twinkling keys and swirling harps. It kicks off excellently, and it quickly proves to be the ultimate chill-out music to lure you into the warm and tropical feel of the record.
“Emerald Nile” leans a little more on the side of Buena Vista Social Club—it leads with Latin flair, nylon string guitar, fancy flutes and deep brass. Cavs shines with his galloping percussion, while flute continues to prove as a major leader of all the music. In this gem, the brass (very satisfyingly and regularly) repeats one of the best melodic motifs on the LP.
“First Light” was a brilliant single choice, as its a major standout with its speedy breakbeats, rich flute and elegant harps. “Silk Road” shimmies with a similar strut to “Watermelon Man” by Hancock’s Headhunters, and the song hits its peak when harmonized brass recities the motif that was introduced by the bass and guitar.
“Boitata” is a much more chill and contemplative number. Twinkling strings, jazzy flutes, and some epic flanging drum-solo moments from Cavs provide some serious ear candy on this mood-shifting cut. “Death Bat” is a major highlight with persistent wah-bass from Joey Walker and wacky guitar /synth-pedal tactics courtesy of Adam Halliwell. These synth-pedal guitar lines steal the show, and sound off-kilter in the best way possible.
Michael “Cavs” Cavanagh by Sarah Findlay
“Paititi” is another consecutive highlight with a serious groove — it may contain some of Joey Walker’s most tasty bass lines yet. These basslines bounce and dance beautifully among harmonizing silky flutes, dramatic jazzy keys , and irresistibly funk drumming, resulting in another entrancing smash. “Candiru” thrives in a kraut-y hypnosis that eventually builds in an epic, proggy beat-switch, but it's “The Seeker” that steals the show among the final tracks. The drums are played racingly with brushes, among ethereal brass and flutes. It's a total ace with a hypnotizing instrumental and it breathes even more life into its jam when it goes into a halftime beat.
Cavs (and Jim Rindfleish) really gathered an A-team to detail the Cavs' rhythmic imagination, and it's a really fantastic stab at the world of jazzy instrumental music with a hefty dash of funk. Cavs and his wrecking crew play excellently throughout, but his overall vision should be highlighted on its own, as it is a very swanky, groovy and transportive one that makes you wanna disappear into the world of Sojourn on repeat. This is a surprising record that is best consumed as a whole, and like the title suggests–it's a sonic journey to somewhere beyond.
There've been a lot of great King Gizzard side projects and solo records from The Murlocs, Pipe Eye, Cavs, Bullant, Heavy Moss— and Sojourn proves to be a very awesome and essential one of that potent bunch. If warmer spring/summer weather is cooking up on your side of the world, Cavs’ new album Sojourn has got you absolutely covered. An epic instrumental soundtrack is an essential thing for avid music fans— and thanks to Cavs, now his fans have an immersive, jazzy and funky odyssey to soundtrack the personal cinema of their hot days ahead in spring and summer.
Occult Highlights: First Light, Paititi, Emerald Nile, The Seeker, Victoria Amazonica, Death Bat
(…but we recommend you listen in full and let this record take you somewhere far, far away )
8.2/10
SUPPORT OCCULT MAGAZINE
Hello reader and thanks for your support!
Occult Magazine is currently an independent & ad-free music publication. We rely on the passion and volunteered hard work of our generous contributors in order to deliver our best to you on your favorite music.
If you enjoy what we are doing—
Please consider donating HERE or HERE if possible!
Thank you!