Golden Features' 'Sisyphus' Is a Stunning Body of Work

Golden Features’ sophomore album has landed on Foreign Family Collective and features nine tunes that showcase his sonic depth.

ODESZA’s Foreign Family Collective has a knack for curating releases from memorable artists, and one who has consistently impressed is Golden Features. His debut album, SECT, turned heads when it was released in 2018, and he won over even more hearts when he collaborated with the label bosses to craft up sounds for the BRONSON project. Now, after a trickle of singles arrived over the past few months, Golden Features has returned to the forefront with his sophomore album, Sisyphus.

The tracks found on Sisyphus are rooted in a number of aspects of the Australian artist’s life. Not only influenced by his Greek heritage, as Sisyphus is a figure from mythology who was the king of Corinth known for cheating death twice, but it also encapsulates his artistic struggles after releasing SECT and the experiences he had while raving in Berlin pre-pandemic. All these inspirations have been drawn together in Sisyphus, with Golden Features providing unique soundscapes for listeners to explore as they dig into the depths of his mind.

Previously released singles “Touch,” “Vigil,” “Endit,” and “Flesh” all helped set the tone for what would arrive on Sisyphus over the past year, with each showing off a different side of Golden Features from deeper and darker to upbeat and groovy. The new tracks carry on with this trend, with the first to arrive being “Yield.” The third collaboration with Rromarin on the album, this one injects some energy into your feet as you dance deep into the night.

When you tune into “Vapid” with Louisahhh, you get a sense of Golden Features’ industrial side that stems from those nights spent in Berlin’s underground scene. In contrast, “Ether” and “Butch” offer up a look inside the mind of the Australian artist as he explores the emotions he felt post-SECT – loneliness, confusion, anxiety, and more. While “Ether” is deeper and more introspective, “Butch” flips the script with upbeat elements from future bass, house, and more, littering the soundscape.

The album’s final track, “Hound,” is a solid outro with pop-infused vocals, oscillating synths, and powerful melodies that will leave you breathless. It’s a delightful end to Sisyphus and is Golden Features at his best, so make sure to give this tune, and the full album, a spin.

Listen to Sisyphus on Spotify or your preferred platform, and make sure to catch Golden Features on tour when he heads to a city near you.