CAVS - SOJOURN - P(DOOM)

Michael “CAVS” Cavanagh, best known as the drummer for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, shares Sojourn, his second solo album out now on p(doom) records. Composed of ten instrumental tracks, Sojourn presents a wordless narrative shaped by Cavanagh’s long-standing interest in spiritual jazz, progressive rock and Krautrock, while moving beyond traditional genre boundaries. Influenced by artists such as Herbie Hancock, Alice Coltrane, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, and Harvey Mason, Sojourn emphasizes atmosphere, groove and composition over technical display. Cavanagh plans to perform the album live with the contributing musicians later this year.

“Candiru,” the first track to be shared from the album, was accompanied by a video directed by Hayden Somerville, and the second single “First Light,” arrived alongside a video directed by Jackson Devereux. The latter was praised by The New York Times, who called the song “...a breezy, upbeat tune that features the flutist and guitarist Adam Halliwell in colloquy with himself across multiple tracks, teasing out possibilities as Cavanagh’s beat hints at hip-hop, funk and jazz.”

Unlike the fantasy-driven storytelling found in some of his work with King Gizzard, Sojourn builds its world entirely through music. The album follows an imagined journey, using shifting moods, textures and rhythmic structures to suggest exploration, confrontation, and transformation without lyrics.

Cavanagh began developing Sojourn during the recording of his 2021 solo debut, CAVS, a percussion-only album. Determined to expand his musical palette, he took on the roles of composer, arranger and musical director for the new project, despite not playing pitched instruments. Early demos were constructed from sampled bass, drums, and synthesizers, which were later expanded through collaboration.

Key collaborators include Jim Rindfleish (Mildlife), who co-arranged the material, alongside a group of Melbourne-based musicians: Adam Halliwell (flute/guitar), Siwei Wong (harp), Archibald Pommelhorse (saxophone), Selene Messinis (keyboards), Robbin Poppins (percussion), and King Gizzard bandmate Joey Walker (bass). Sessions combined structured takes with free improvisation, later edited and arranged to retain a cohesive, live-sounding feel.