Goloka: 'Afterglow'

A cool, Sunday morning record that has moments of pure wonder, and is clearly influenced by the Bristolian sounds of Portishead and Massive Attack. What turns me off though are the obvious dependence on the 808 and the rapper MC Buzz, which give the record a schizophrenic feeling as it spends about 80% of the album making you feel as if you can finally sleep after the chemical over-indulgence of the night before, but then suddenly gets all Saturday night on you.

Despite moments of glorious beauty - in particular the tracks Tobacco Slide and Taxi Driver - ultimately what could have been an interesting record fails in what it sets out to do. Overall, 'Afterglow' is a very sexy sounding record and a damn sight better than a lot of the crap which clogs up independent radio and the charts. If only they could have concentrated on making an album of comedown tunes, Goloka could easily parallel their Bristolian counterparts.

Released 28th May 2007 by Independent Records.

Written by Bradford Middleton.