Golden Dawn Arkestra Strike Up Catchy Dance Hooks On Crisp & Contagious ‘The Gold Album’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Photo by Ryan Hubert

The Austin, TX-based collective Golden Dawn Arkestra strapped on their dancing shows during the Covid lockdown, emerging with The Gold Album, eleven tracks that bump, shimmy, and shake with dayglo crispness. 

Bandleader Topaz “Zapot” McGarrigle leads the charge coming out of the gate with the most complete offering, “Join As One”. The afrobeat-based, funk-laden joint gets the booty shaking with catchy hooks, and mid-song breaks for rapping and percussion spotlights. Closer “Golden Limousine” is also a bright spot, bookmarking the album in sweet soulful funk.

When the group stays more organic such as the grooving “Backwards” with squeaky sax, things are very positive. The Arkestra can also turn up the techno influences and go full electric dance music, such as on the overlong and pulsing “Rich Don’t Sweat” with less exciting results. The discoed-out “Superstar” stays in this vein but also has some positive ’80s flourishes before things improve on “Success” with sweaty club beats and more rapping. 

The Jamiroquai sounding bright jam track “Phenomenal” deals with that gap between digital/virtual and real/organic human touch in a winning fashion. “Room 909” also delivers the goods with organ swells, skittering beats, and a gorgeous sax solo. The spoken word lyrics over the spinning club track “Covid Condo” search for ecstasy while chimes and electro blasts shower “Near + Far”, surprisingly resulting in the most soul-drenched bumping effort on the album. 

Golden Dawn Arkestra is yearning to deliver their mix of electro-dance/afro-funk to the masses and throughout The Gold Album that desire for a meaningful connection shines through.  

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