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With recent activity from the Bats, the Clean and other Flying Nun stalwarts, it’s clear that the New Zealand pop scene refuses to slow down. But just in case you thought it was nothing but veterans of the 80s indie pop wars, along comes Buffalo, the fourth album from the Phoenix Foundation. The sextet doesn’t break any new ground, but that’s doubtless not its intention. Instead the band creates simple, melodic pop tunes in a variety of settings. From jazzy art pop (“Wonton”) to hazy acid folk (“Golden Ship”), stripped-down jangle (“Bitte Bitte”) to enigmatic psychedelia (the title track, which somehow believes a buffalo is an undersea creature), the Foundation is obviously perfectly comfortable with anything, as long as the melody is at the forefront. Perhaps the most striking track is “Orange & Mango,” which manages to weave bits of all the band’s diverse interests into one memorable number. Start there and work backwards and forwards for a pure pop treat.
http://iamthebuffalo.com
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