If music is the soundtrack to your life, then there is something for every scene on The Phoenix Foundation’s new album, Buffalo. The follow up to 2007’s outstanding Happy Ending mixes Polished 60’s folk rock with psychedelic pop and more than lives up to its predecessor.

Laid back opener Eventually introduces the album perfectly.  An acoustic guitar and synth driven ballad, with Buda’s chimey reverb laden electric guitar weaving in and out.  Shifting up a gear, title track Buffalo picks up the tempo with thumping tribal like drums, chanting vocals, and Buda’s distinctive arpeggio guitar riffs.

Flock Of Hearts is a definite stand out.  An instantly catchy pop song that is perfect to jump up and down on your bed to. Check out the Z-vex fuzz factory solo. 

According to Luke Buda, the album was recorded over a year with most of the songs beginning their life as someone’s demo.

“Sam and Con and I were hanging out at the Car Club (our practice room) and we would just get a tempo going, lay down a guide acoustic or whatever and build the track up from there as the other guys would randomly pop in. The process is always evolving.  Who knows whether the next album will be a collaborative beast like this one or back to more songwritery material.”

Songs like Pot and Bitte Bitte are bound to spark sing-alongs at any Phoenix Foundation gig.  They also show off the bands song writing ability. Luke Buda lists Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Frank Black among his favourite songwriters.

“I personally am pretty much only interested in the greats, or at least with those striving for it.  I think it’s healthy to have some really obscure purposefully arty or difficult outsider/ cliquey stuff around, but generally I go for the stuff that I reckon will stand the test of time! Ha! Dad rock.”

Skeleton highlights the bands commitment to experimentation.  A song set against an eerie soundscape with heavy reverb and even a touch of viola.

“We are always experimenting with new sounds and equipment” says Buda.  “New pedals and new reverb’s; actually we helped Lee Prebble install a PLATE reverb just before we started mixing. He also got a nice new Trident console and so we mixed the album through that which was fun.”

The second half of the album, while not having as many easily accessible tracks as the first, finishes with a highlight in Golden Ship.  “Its time to go” sings Sam Scott in an almost lazy drawl, before delivering the darkest track on the album.  It is a perfect, slightly sorrowful end to an outstanding album.