JOEL SARAKULA is an Australian-born singer/songwriter who now works out of the UK. He has a clutch of albums under his belt; indeed he debuted back in 2002 with ‘Mystery Morning’ but more recently his music has taken on a more blue-eyed soul shading and if that’s your thing, you’ll need to check out his brand new album ‘Soft Focus’.
The 12 tracker was flagged up via a couple of singles which delivered a sound that various pundits and commentators described as channeling the undemanding flavours of artists and bands like Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates and/or their modern equivalent – Mamas Gun and Young Gun Silver Fox. So, no surprise to learn that Shawn Lee ( of Young Gun Silver Fox) is involved in the album!
Music multi-tasker, Lee produced two tracks ‘I’ll Get By Without You’ and ‘Telephone Calls’ and both typify the soft focus sound of ‘Soft Focus’. Sarakula explains that on the album he wanted to create “abstract and warm vignettes” and “soft aesthetics” and that’s what he’s achieved. Songs like the lovely ‘Back For Your Love’ fit both those descriptions perfectly and if that’s what floats your boat, you’ll discover plenty more of the same on ‘Soft Focus’ which is out now via Legere Recordings.
