Joel Sarakula - Soft Focus - Vinyl Record

Joel Sarakula's new album “Soft Focus” is a mid-career album spanning his many influences and genres including Soft-Rock, Funk and Indie Pop, all brought under the umbrella of his gentle gaze and a 'soft' aesthetic. “Soft Focus” is also the name of a photographic technique born out of a spherical abberation of the lens where the image is a bit blurry and undefined: it's both flattering and forgiving on the subject. It's an apt title. As a lifetime wearer of (vintage) glasses, Sarakula knows a lot about spherical abberations. Perhaps he produced these songs with his glasses off as these are abstract and warm vignettes, never overstaying their welcome and for this reason Sarakula manages to feature twelve new tracks on “Soft Focus”. Highlights include one of the two Shawn Lee produced tracks “I'll Get By Without You”, the rockier, iberic beat of “King Of Spain”, the soulful affirmation of “Back For Your Love” and the psychedelic-tinged “Bird
About this Item

The item format is a vinyl
This specific sale is a new release, shipped direct from the manufacturer
The Artist Name is Joel Sarakula
The Title is Soft Focus

Condition New

Other Comments
Joel Sarakula's new album “Soft Focus” is a mid-career album spanning his many influences and genres including Soft-Rock, Funk and Indie Pop, all brought under the umbrella of his gentle gaze and a 'soft' aesthetic. “Soft Focus” is also the name of a photographic technique born out of a spherical abberation of the lens where the image is a bit blurry and undefined: it's both flattering and forgiving on the subject. It's an apt title. As a lifetime wearer of (vintage) glasses, Sarakula knows a lot about spherical abberations. Perhaps he produced these songs with his glasses off as these are abstract and warm vignettes, never overstaying their welcome and for this reason Sarakula manages to feature twelve new tracks on “Soft Focus”. Highlights include one of the two Shawn Lee produced tracks “I'll Get By Without You”, the rockier, iberic beat of “King Of Spain”, the soulful affirmation of “Back For Your Love” and the psychedelic-tinged “Bird Of Paradise” and “Microdosing”. This is a lovingly crafted album, well polished and it feels like the culmination of Sarakula's adventures in soulful soft-rock and his defining statement in the genre. While comparisons will be made with contemporary projects like Shawn Lee's Young Gun Silver Fox, Drugdealer, Benny Sings and Prep, echoes of soft-rock icons Ned Doheny, Boz Scaggs, Todd Rundgren and Michael Franks also ripple gently through the album. Imagine if Ray Manzarek was the frontman for the Bee Gees... It’s a neat visual introduction to Joel Sarakula, a UK-based Australian artist who writes, produces and sings Soulful Pop, gazing out at a contemporary world through vintage glasses, vintage threads and long blond hair. His music is informed by a rich, 1970s-inspired palette, drawing on soft-rock, funk and disco influences: sunny, uptempo jams for darker times. Self-aware that he looks and occasionally sounds like the love child of Ray Manzarek and the Gibb brothers, his self-deprecating sense of humour is always there just below the fringe. Born in Sydney, based in UK and international in outlook Sarakula is a songwriter who has travelled the world in search of his muse, experiencing everything from being a victim of Caribbean carjackings to performing in the remote fishing villages of Norway before finally establishing his career in the UK and Europe. Since then he has released albums such as “Island Time” (2023), “Companion” (2020), “Love Club” (2018) and “The Imposter” (2015) that have racked up plays on rotation across national UK and European radio and got him noticed in The New York Times, The Independent (UK), The Irish Times, Rolling Stone Germany, El Pais (Spain) and Sydney Morning Herald. It’s- been a long road finding his current cult status starting out at the piano from a young age in suburban Sydney, writing and singing songs by the time he was a teenager and onstage by fifteen years old playing jazz standards in his local golf club. “I came from humble beginnings, it’s best not to mention” as he sings in his 70s boogie influenced song “I’m Still Winning”. Joel Sarakula is a fixture on the festival and club circuit having previously performed at SXSW, Primavera Sound and Glastonbury festivals. Ever the internationalist, he tours with pickup bands sourced from each territory he plays in: a Barcelona band for Spain, a Berlin band for Germany and so forth. This cross-cultural exchange is another echo of the 1970s when world travelling soul and pop artists from the US did the same and guarantees that his live shows remain fresh, exciting and absolutely contemporary.

The Media Condition is New

This is new and unplayed

The Sleeve Condition is New

New unplayed

The Tracks of this item include:
1. Confident Man (3:33)
2. Bitcoin Bro (3:23)
3. I'll Get By Without You (3:44)
4. Authenticity (3:16)
5. King Of Spain (3:14)
6. Back For Your Love (3:59)
7. Loved Up (3:16)
8. The Matinee (2:59)
9. Midnight Movie (3:10)
10. Telephone Calls (3:36)
11. Bird Of Paradise (3:47)
12. Migrodosing (4:07)

We Use Stock Images
Because we have over 6 million items for sale we have to use stock images, this listing does not include the actual image of the item for sale. The purchase of this specific item is made with the understanding that the image shown in this listing is a stock image and not the actual item for sale. For example: some of our stock images include stickers, labels, price tags, hyper stickers, obi's, promotional messages, signatures and or writing which may not be available in the actual item.

Vinyl Record disc colour
Stock images can show a black, coloured, or picture disc. Unless a colour or picture is explicitly described in this listing, this purchase is made with the understanding that it could be black or any colour, and or could be a picture disc.
 

Vinyl Record Version
Vinyl discs are released in many editions and variations, such as standard edition, re-issue, demonstration (demo), not for sale, promotional (promo), special edition, limited edition, and many other editions and versions.  The disc you receive could be any of these editions or variations. 
 

The Outer Sleeve
When we describe the sleeve condition in this listing, we are describing the outer sleeve only, specifically, it does not describe the inner sleeve unless explicitly referenced.
 

The Inner Sleeve
Almost all of our vinyl records will include either an original inner sleeve or a plain inner sleeve, or a printed inner sleeve. The images of this inner sleeve as shown on this listing are stock images, not the actual image. Inner sleeves are notorious for being replaced or damaged, such as edge splits. Unless explicitly mentioned in this listing the inner sleeve is not part of this purchase. If you purchase this vinyl record it is with the clear understanding the inner sleeve is not included as part of this sale, and if a sleeve is included it is provided on an as/is condition solely as packaging, as a protector for the record, which may have creases, wear or edge splits.
 

Hairlines
If we reference a hairline(s), it means it is a light line on the disc that looks like a hair. Hairlines are different to scratches or wear. A hairline is lighter and has limited and less impact on the playing quality, whereas wear or a scratch can cause some level of clicks, pops or interference when playing. 
 

Record Grading
Our Records are graded by the worldwide record industry standard called the 'Record Grading 101: Understanding The Goldmine Grading Guide'. Search this term on Google if you have any queries about how sellers and collectors grade vinyl records.
 

Delivery Carrier and Courier Tracking
We use internal tracking codes when shipping goods.  If your item is not delivered within five days of dispatch you are welcome to contact us to track and resolve any delivery issues.
 

Gift Ideas
This is a great gift idea.

Hours of Service
We have many warehouses, some of the warehouses process orders seven days a week, but the Administration Support Staff are located at a head office location, outside of the warehouses, and typically work only Monday to Friday.
 

Location ID 659z

iHaveit SKU ID 1353305096

Unique Reference Number 2835355532