‘Buddha & Devadatta’ crystallizes the kinetic energy and spiritual preoccupations that have defined Buddhadatta on stage into a studio format, offering nine tracks that feel simultaneously lived-in and ceremonially precise. From the first chord of “Devadatta,” the band establishes a rhythm that is both grounded and ecstatic, Voglibonze’s vocal delivery weaving throat-singing textures into the guitar’s shimmering lines. The interplay with Seiko’s samurai-inspired bass is immediate: her eyes, once a stage focal point, now translate through sound, anchoring each melody with an almost ritualistic insistence. Takami’s drums hover at the intersection of propulsion and meditation, providing a steady heartbeat that allows the songs to expand and contract organically.
“Ei Sara Ei” is a study in contrast and cohesion, its melodic contours lifted by Voglibonze’s reverent phrasing while Seiko and Takami craft subtle counterpoints beneath. The track feels like a guided ascent, each layer of instrumentation revealing a meticulous attention to dynamics and pacing honed over years of touring in Australia, Taiwan, and Japan. The song’s energy is both corporeal and cerebral, inviting movement without sacrificing contemplative depth.
“The Journey of Earthly Desires” amplifies the band’s narrative ambitions, blending hypnotic rhythmic cycles with lyrical meditations that draw directly from Buddhist philosophy. Voglibonze’s guitar lines, simultaneously plaintive and ornate, interact with Takami’s percussion in a manner that recalls the best of Japan’s underground psych traditions, while Seiko’s bass serves as both anchor and conversation partner, threading the motifs together with finesse.
“Nine of Buddha Aspect No.2” and “Pass Through If You Dare Tourinshe” exemplify the group’s capacity for structural elasticity. The former is a multi-layered exploration of tonal resonance, with Voglibonze pushing the voice into near-mystical registers while the rhythm section oscillates between stillness and drive. The latter track moves more assertively, incorporating intricate percussive flourishes and bass motifs that pull the listener along in an unpredictable yet entirely coherent arc.
On “Zen-Aku” and “Annoying Journey,” the band flirts with playful abstraction, exploring tonal extremes while retaining their melodic core. Seiko’s bass lines shimmer with both restraint and subtle flamboyance, while Takami punctuates with dynamic textures that shift fluidly between percussive insistence and ambient wash. Voglibonze’s guitar and vocal work tie the pieces together, imbuing each with a sense of ritualized spontaneity.
“Heaven and Hell” stands as the emotional apex of the album, where contemplative motifs meet exuberant surges of sound. The track negotiates contrasts with dexterity: the meditative undercurrents of the rhythm section support melodic flights that are at once ecstatic and grounded, demonstrating the group’s mastery of tension and release without resorting to cliché.
Finally, “Farewell of Potatoes” closes the record with a reflective yet celebratory tone. Co-written by Voglibonze and Seiko, the piece balances the band’s experimental tendencies with a warmth and accessibility that feels like both acknowledgment and benediction to their audience. The subtle interplay between bowed bass lines, precise drumming, and ethereal guitar gestures leaves the listener with a sense of both completion and anticipation for what Buddhadatta might explore next.
Throughout ‘Buddha & Devadatta,’ the synergy between Voglibonze, Seiko, and Takami is palpable. Voglibonze’s leadership is evident in the compositions and arrangements, yet the record thrives because of the equal weight given to each musician’s voice. The album succeeds in translating the immediacy of their live performances into a recorded form, preserving both the kinetic thrill and the spiritual resonance that has become the band’s hallmark. It is an album that affirms Buddhadatta’s unique space in contemporary psych and experimental music, a collection that rewards repeated listening by revealing ever-deeper layers of craft, devotion, and exuberance.
Learn more by visiting Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook.
