Australian Zak Olsen has many projects simmering on the stove. He plays guitar with ORB, runs The Frowning Clouds on the side, and recently got involved with The Judges. And then there’s his solo project, Traffik Island.
Here, it’s not about hard-hitting guitar music but rather quirky pop tracks. On Ghost Notes (Library Of The Occult), he takes his eccentricity to the max, releasing a soundtrack for a fictional B-movie.
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats did something similar with Nell’ Ora Blu, but while the Brits stuck to their signature sound, Traffik Island dives fully into the world of Goblin, Carpenter, and Morricone.
Strange, mystical sounds from heavily manipulated keyboards emerge—instrumental, groovy, and true to form. There’s funkiness here, and deep, eerie tones there. Fried Fifer is cool, Psychedelic Freakout feels ominous at times.
Olsen’s music paints vivid pictures, with scenes and settings shifting rapidly. One moment, we’re surrounded by a horde of zombies; the next, we’re racing a sports car down tight coastal roads.
It’s definitely experimental, like on The Voids, which sneaks in on tiptoes. Yet the album never feels abrasive—everything is retro but still remarkably modern.
Traffik Island – Ghost Notes: Vintage B-movie sounds for horror fans. – RIFL
