Saturday 22 August 2015

Golden Void - Berkana


Release date: September 18th 2015. Label: Thrill Jockey Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Berkana: Tracklisting

01 Burbank's Dream
02 Silent Season
03 Dervishing
04 Astral Plane
05 I've Been Down
06 The Beacon
07 Storm and Feather

Band Members:

Golden Void is led by Isaiah Mitchell of Earthless with Camilla Saufley-Mitchell (Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound), Justin Pinkerton, and Aaron Morgan.

Review:

The thing I love about music is its power to create strong images and emotions in your mind and soul. It’s with great music like great experiences, travels or highlight in your life it leaves memories and traces of meaning in life. This is exactly what the new record from  Golden Void. Berkana is a pleasant in fact uplifting travelogue through outstanding track upon track.

This sort of music surrounds you, eclipses you, carry you away, stealing your time while taking you for a joyful spin, just to leave you at the end of the road replenished and ready for another round. I don’t mind losing time in the company of the well-crafted tunes Golden Void conjures.

Berkana is more of the same from Golden Void’s first self-titled full length from 2012 in terms of atmosphere and sounds, but a lot has somehow happened over the last three years. The new album appears even more varied and with a larger use of different instruments such as flutes and the use of the female vocals from keyboard player Camilla Saufley-Mitchell. To a higher extent and with much success Berkana incorporates the airy psychedelic-ness from Camilla’s other band.

Opening song Burbank’s Dream starts with a heavy riff, well there is something new for you, followed by Isaiah Mitchells (guitar/vocal) strong yet powerful and melodic voice. Why he doesn’t use it in the Earthless context is still beyond my comprehension. The man has some serious pipes.

A song like Astral Plane really lift you up, and take you across vast plains of shimmering light and sunshine, floating and bathing in soothing sounds. Nothing scary or heavy darkness here. Next up is I’ve Been Down hits you right in the face with a tight drum groove and an aggressive guitar riff while Isaiah lets his voice out in full roar over the hard rockin’ fundament laid down by the other band members Justin Pinkerton (drums) and Aaron Morgan (bass).

Closer Storm and Feather sees Golden Void and Berkana slowed down to dragging bluesy stroller with an ambience worthy of a certain Mr. Young and his crazy four-leggers around the time of Ragged Glory or Broken Arrow.

With Berkana Golden Void has taken the next step in consolidating themselves further as not just a side-project of Mitchell but solidifying them as independent class A band no one can deny. In fact this albums sits well beside any hard rocking stoner rock album out of recent years.

Words by Niels Fuzz Bartholdy

Thanks to Crawford at Thrill Jockey Records for the promo. Berkana will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Thrill Jockey Records from September 18th 2015. 

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