The Golden Age

The Australian born Joel Sarakula has been hopping all over the world in recent times, but in 2013 the singer finally settled in the UK to record his latest album, ‘The Golden Age’. The result is a pure retro-pop release in every way, with jingling melodies and catchy lyrics that will make your foot tap irrespective of your musical taste.

Sarakula’s idols and influences hail from the pop hall fame in names such as The Beach Boys and ABBA, and although it wouldn’t be remiss to infer the similarities, the quirky artist very much has his own sound and voice.

His worldly experiences are quite apparent throughout the album. Tracks ‘Only One Still Dancing’ and ‘Shadows’ are quite reflective and introspective numbers, which seem to highlight how insignificant one can feel in the scheme of life.  It must be acknowledged that this is sometimes a difficult sentiment to emanate in the stereotypically happy realm of pop. One line from ‘Shadows’ is very much an eye opener to such a notion, singing, “we’re just shadows in the sunshine, I stare into the emptiness”.

All depressingly profound shit aside, Sarakula and his band have also hit the other end of the emotional scale, with the uplifting tune ‘I Will Deliver’ opening the album. The song is heavily focused on chorus, tempo, and relativism – all the endearing qualities pop music is known for.

Jiggy pop music can get a bad rap in the indie age, but sometimes one has to put all prejudice aside and appreciate a record for what it is, rather than what it should be and this album is pop, good pop at that.

Watch the clip for ‘I Will Deliver’ from The Golden Age here:

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