In 2021, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard drummer Michael Cavanagh released his eponymous debut solo album under the moniker CAVS. Today, he's announcing its followup, Sojourn. The lead single "Candiru" is out now.
About the record, co-producer Jim Rindfleish of Mildlife explains:
Sojourn began as a sample-based beat tape that Cavs had been chipping away at between Gizz commitments. Even in its demo form, the material had a distinctly visual quality. We kept returning to the image of waking up on an uncharted island, covered in dense jungles, waterfalls and glittering caves. As that vision developed, the material began to resemble the forms of various mystical and undiscovered fauna and flora. Having already conquered a solo "drum" album, the next logical step for Cavs (in my mind) was to step up as a band leader and sole songwriter. After deciding to record it all with real instruments and players, we began to tap into an aspect of Cavs' musicality that has perhaps yet to fully surface as the drummer for Gizz. As drummers, we understood each other completely, hearing music in a very similar way. We wanted this record to feel like a journey through Cavs’ rhythmic imagination.
Sojourn is the trek across that uncharted land. In many ways, it’s literally uncharted territory for Cavs, as this is his debut release as a bandleader and arranger. It is an ode to our favourite drummer / bandleaders throughout 60’s, 70’s and 80’s (Billy Cobham, Harvey Mason, Tony Williams, Tony Allen, etc.) and is at its core, a ‘Groove’ concept album, best listened to in one continuous sitting.
Like its predecessor, Sojourn is all instrumentals. Along with Rindfleish, other collaborators include Adam Halliwell on flute and guitar, Siwei Wong on harp, Archibald Pommelhorse on saxophone, Selene Messinis on keyboards, Robbin Poppins on percussion, and King Gizzard bandmate Joey Walker on bass.
"Candiru" comes with a music video directed by Hayden Somerville. Watch below.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Victoria Amazonica"
02 "Emerald Nile"
03 "First Light"
04 "Silk Road"
05 "Boitatá"
06 "Death Bat"
07 "Paititi"
08 "Candiru"
09 "The Seeker"
10 "The Keeper"
Sojourn is out 4/24 via p(doom) records. Pre-order it here.
