reviews / 2026

THE OLYMPIANS - In Search Of A Revival

2026 (Daptone)
fusion, soul-jazz
by Pietro Virtuani
6

"In Search Of A Revival" is the second album by Olympians, a New York band built around the multifaceted figure of Toby Pazner. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer, he's the mastermind behind the project, and in many cases it's his hands pressing the keys, plucking the strings and hitting the skins. But it's not a solo effort: he's joined in the work by no fewer than seventeen Daptone musicians lending support, particularly on horns.

The album is almost a sequel to its predecessor, which might come as a surprise given the ten years that have passed. The sequel metaphor is particularly fitting, given the cinematic quality of the compositions; for "In Search Of A Revival" the setting shifts to a bigger stage, leaving behind the mythological backdrops in favor of a more immediate style of writing that plays with psychedelia, noir echoes ("Hollywood Cold"), western and exotic touches (as in "Saraswati Puja", for instance), a certain funk groove ("Thunderball") and a touch of soul lyricism ("California").

Compared to the debut, the lo-fi patina is scaled back in favor of greater sonic definition and a more deliberate sense of orchestration; what's lost along the way is some of the warmth and aura of mystery the first album managed to convey, but the listening experience remains immersive and, at moments, genuinely moving (just listen to the ending of "Honey Bea").

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11/03/2026

This article is an English translation of the original Italian text by Pietro Virtuani, published on OndaRock.it. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence, under the editorial responsibility of OndaRock's editor-in-chief, Claudio Fabretti.

Read the original in Italian · About the English edition

Tracklist

  1. 1. In Search of a Revival Part 1
  2. 2. Strawberry Kiwi
  3. 3. Thunderball
  4. 4. California
  5. 5. A Little Something
  6. 6. Here Comes Ben
  7. 7. In Search of a Revival Part 2
  8. 8. Saraswati Puja
  9. 9. Hollywood Cold
  10. 10. Tall Grass
  11. 11. Wildfire
  12. 12. Honey Bea

THE OLYMPIANS online

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The Olympians su OndaRock

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