Latest Posts

Fashion Expo 1990 – Fashion Expo 1990

June 16, 2014

Despite being recorded between 2007 and 2008, the material that makes up the debut of Buffalo electronic duo Fashion Expo 1990 is much more reminiscent of the sounds that dominated the clubs and dance music during the decade of their namesake. With melodic piano lines inspired by house and jazz, along with synth textures and acidic bass lines that pay homage to various historical dance music scenes, the self-titled record is a compelling amalgamation of classic influences arranged in a manner that captures the same energy and enthusiasm that characterized the timeless sounds of that era. Back in 2007, Miles Kirsch, keyboard player for indie rock outfit Difficult Night, composed much of the album with help from Mike Bassette as the two regularly played the material out in the following two years. While the project was initially intended to be solely a live act, delaying the release of any recordings. Fashion[...]

Tonight: Beautiful/Decay

June 13, 2014

As visual art has always been an important component of live music performance, the creative possibilities of curating a collaborative, mutually informed showcase can often allow the unique tastes of the artists  to come together to realize a singular aesthetic statement. Hip hop and street culture has long been at the forefront of this avenue of performance, merging the ideas of local artists, filmmakers, DJs, MCs, and producers into a cohesive community event. Tonight, Allen Street Hardware will host “Beautiful/Decay,” presented by art collective ArmCandy. This interactive live event features the latest collection from visual artist Jessica Saddleson, as well as a release party for love.lost/love.gained.too, the newest instrumental tape from Essential Vitamins Crew-affiliated producer Cove. In addition, the event will include DJ sets from Josh Yourmoms and John Pal, along with a poetry reading from EVC artist Jay MF G. Professional photographer JK Media will also be on hand to shoot[...]

June 5th

June 5, 2014

Caribou – “Can’t Do Without You” “Can’t Do Without You,” the lead track from Caribou’s forthcoming album, Our Love, is a subdued and tender cut that takes off and soars as the drums kick in and the warm synths resonate deeper, building behind a wall of sound, until the rush subsides for a blissful outro. Look for Caribou’s sixth studio album out October 7th via Merge Records. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/152480774″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Moon Boots – “Whatever You Need” New York based producer Moon Boots’ tracks have always had nostalgic vibe, using disco grooves and 90’s r&b vocals to create soulful, bouncing slices of sleek house. His latest track for label French Express, “Whatever You Need,” follows a familiar formula, building around a yearning vocal sample and vibrant keys, the filtered breakdowns and graceful builds make for a perfect summer party vibe and breathes life into a genre often knocked for it’s[...]

Mario Bee Releases New Jhnson & Jhnson EP

May 30, 2014

Brooklyn-via-Buffalo-via-Rochester DJ/producer Mario Bee has showed his combined influence of both North American and UK club music on his various soundcloud demos and the Tomb EP, released last December on Austrian label Tiefparterre Records. The latest collection from the artist comes via media brand Toats Orig and is a two-tracker aptly titled Jnson & Jhnson.  Lead cut, “BabyPowder,” brings a raucous three minutes of grime, trap, and southern-rap, with a menacing, detuned bassline. Bringing to mind producers like Darq E Freaker and Royal-T, the stripped-down, raw aesthetic combines elements of Jersey club and hip hop, making for an inventive sound still strongly rooted in club music culture. The B-side, “BabyOil,” brings a similar vibe, with a faster tempo and break beats scattered throughout. Listen below and check out the Malt Disney edited video for “BabyPowder.” [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/149713354″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/149714232″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]  

Tonight: The Goods

May 28, 2014

Over the last few months, the eclectic musical exports of Fredonia have caught our attention with bands like fuzz-rock trio Zealot and psych-pop outfit Mooses being featured here at buffaBLOG. The latest addition to that growing list are funk-rock band The Goods, a three piece consisting of Nate Schwartz on guitar, vocals, and saxophone, Sam Pavlovich on Bass, and drummer Colin Gray. Having played regularly throughout the Fredonia area as well as a handful of appearances at the upstairs venue of Buffalo’s Mr. Goodbar, the trio brings their experimental, melodic blend of jazz, rock and funk to Allentown tonight for a headlining show at Nietzsche’s.  Their self-titled debut EP, released this past December, features four tracks ranging from guitar-driven pop-rock, to groove based funk and straightforward, riff-heavy rock. The record is currently available for download on Bandcamp along with a recently released update of the sprawling, sax-centric jam “Earthman“. Music starts at 10pm,[...]

Tonight: Sauced

May 24, 2014

As one of Buffalo’s most diverse and creative music scenes, the instrumental hip hop and beat producer community has long needed a continual event to showcase some of the city’s vibrant, unsung talent. Tonight, Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar will host the first installment of Sauced, an event aimed at featuring local as well as touring producers, providing an opportunity for their studio heat to be brought to a live setting. Veterans of the Buffalo hip hop scene, Shuteyes and Tone Atlas, will be rocking live on the MPC with local MC Mad Dukez and DJ Charlie the Butcher hosting the event. Also on the bill tonight are Oakland producer Durazzo, whose jazzy, sample-based tracks have a reflective, soulful feel and New Orleans producer AF The Naysayer as a part of their “Back on the Pads” tour.  Music starts at 10pm. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87419866″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]    

May 15th

May 15, 2014

Laszlo Dancehall – “Plimpton” (George FitzGerald Remix) Laszlo Dancehall, the UK production duo made up of Leon Vynehall and A1 Bassline, released their latest EP, LZD III, on George FitzGerald’s ManMakeMusic label earlier this week. FitzGerald’s remix of one of the record’s standout cuts, “Plimpton,” is a characteristically atmospheric production, with deep bass tones and crisp drums that provide  a more dancefloor-oriented interpretation of the more eccentric original track. LZD III is out now on ManMakeMusic and look for FitzGerald’s debut LP later this year on Domino records imprint Double Six. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/148326986″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Movement – “5.57” Australian trio Movement’s debut EP features four tracks of moody, dark r&b, drawing comparisons to artists like James Blake, The Weeknd, and The xx. It’s a sound that has become somewhat oversaturated at this point, yet tracks like “5.57” provide a compelling case for its legitimacy with intricate sound design and decadent layered[...]

May 8th

May 8, 2014

Jamie xx & Nicolas Jaar – “Girl vs. Work It” (Nico’s Bluewave Edit) London producer Jamie xx premiered this stunning edit on his second installment of his BBC radio 6 residency series last Friday. The track seamlessly blends the producer’s latest single “Girl” with Nicolas Jaar’s Bluewave edit of Missy Elliot’s “Work It,” a seemingly unlikely pairing, resulting in a hypnotic groove and compelling combination of soul and tenacity. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/147869904″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Matrixxman- “Venetian Mask” Charles McCloud Duff, who records under the name Matrixxman is set to release a new EP, Amulet, on June 9 via Ghostly International imprint Spectral Sound. The lead track from the record, “Venetian Mask,” was created using several pieces of vintage Roland gear and captures a nostalgic, bouncing house vibe with a dynamic and atmospheric sound. With releases on Crosstown Rebels and Jimmy Edgar’s Ultramajic label already to his name, the San Francisco-based[...]

May 2nd

May 2, 2014

Schoolboy Q – “Man of the Year” (Royal-T Bootleg Dub) Southampton, UK producer Royal-T’s dub of  the Chromatics-sampling Schoolboy Q track “Man of the Year” brings a laid back vibe, with a 2-step inspired beat. Impressively blending elements of soul, hip hop and garage, the infectious vocal hooks of the original are dropped in throughout, bringing a sense of urgency to the otherwise smooth, soulful track. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145730761″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Tinashe – Vulnerable (Pomo Remix) Montreal’s Pomo is responsible for one of the funkiest remixes of Tinashe to date. His midtempo rework of “Vulnerable” from the LA r&b singer’s Black Water mixtape, with it’s bright, bouncy feel, contrasts the murky undertones of the original.  The sultry vocals sit perfectly atop the groove, making for a sound that feels somewhere between west coast hip hop and boogie. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146587000″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Jacques Greene – “Feel What”[...]

Pluto Brady- The Beat Tape

April 28, 2014

Rochester producer Pluto Brady balances hazy, melodic textures with sinister elements of trap, bass, and hip-hop on his self-titled debut beat tape. The 18-year-old artist  has been previously credited for tracks on rapper Donzelly’s DMS mixtape as well as Black Kray’s Goth Luv mixtape and various other MCs. Bringing to mind producers like Clams Casino, Ryan Hemsworth, and Suicideyear, Brady’s instrumentals place emphasis on slow paced, patient melodic builds, making for an immersive experience that reveals new layers with each listen. Throughout the tape’s eight tracks, the vibe ranges from ethereal, reverb-laden hip hop on tracks like “Without You” to futuristic r&b on “I Don’t Know What to Say.” The lush “Alone Forever” starts off the collection with a captivating hybrid of menacing trap -inspired percussion and fluid melodic synth swells behind a soulful piano riff. “Internet Eyes” builds around a similar style of elegant keys, but heads in a slightly darker[...]

April 24th

April 24, 2014

Axel Boman – “It Starts With the Stomach” Stockholm, Sweden based DJ/producer Axel Boman’s latest effort is a near ten-minute jam, with a typically playful groove and subtle texture changes throughout. After a fizzy synth breakdown near the 4 minute mark, the raucous percussion slowly picks up momentum and falls back into the infectious sweet spot that the track is built around. Look for “It Starts With the Stomach” to appear on the latest edition of the Friends Will Carry You Home compilation series from Berlin house duo Catz n Dogz. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146070535″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Losoul – “Daddy, What’s a Rise?” German techno veteran Losoul’s first release on Hypercolour comes via the two track Slowly Turning, out on May 12. The rigid, funk flavor of “Daddy, What’s a Rise?” is carried by a heavy, unrelenting groove, elusive vocal samples and short disco stabs that span the tracks’ eleven minutes. Listen[...]

Network Releases New “Winter” Single

April 23, 2014

Buffalo experimental hip hop project Network have been hard at work on their latest album, expected out sometime early this summer. In the meantime, the group, who recently added former New York producer/songwriter Jon Bap as a full-time member, has shared a new track titled “Winter.” The wavy instrumental moves with a creeping pace, with sharp percussion and washes of feedback, providing a surreal soundtrack to lyricist Quinton Brock’s stream-of-consciousness delivery. The track is available as a free download and hint’s at more genre-defying, ambitious material from the group in the future. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144872404″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

April 17th

April 17, 2014

Howson’s Groove – “Shake Up” (Arkist Remix) South London duo Howson’s Groove recently released their latest EP, Body &  Soul which includes two original tracks as well as remixes from Fybe:One and Arkist. The re-work of “Shake Up” by Bristol producer Arkist, provides a clean, smooth house interpretation of the original cut, incorporating industrial elements to make for an inviting, low-key atmosphere. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144670779″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Blood Orange – “Uncle Ace” (a/jus/ted Remix” “Uncle Ace,” the newest single from Blood Orange’s brilliant LP, Cupid Deluxe, has received a warm, disco treatment from legendary New York DJ Justin Strauss, working with Teddy Stuart under the name a/jus/ted. Spanning nearly nine minutes, the elegant cut contains emotive piano chords and a killer, slow burning groove that give it a dark, 80’s inspired feel. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144849082″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Deadboy – “Return” UK producer Deadboy’s follow up to his 2013 Blaquewerk EP, titled Return, is out[...]

Tonight: St. Vincent

April 12, 2014

There’s nothing quite like seeing an artist’s bold vision come to fruition as they carve out a space for themselves that feels comfortably unfamiliar, defying traditional genre classification, and most importantly, forcing us to think about music in a novel way. Through four albums as St. Vincent, singer/multi-instrumentalist  Annie Clark has consistently kept listeners guessing, crafting a vividly experimental sound that often juxtaposes celestial arrangements with jarring, manic guitar solos. A supremely talented  musician and visionary, Annie Clark has always had a “future is now” vibe about her, and on St. Vincent’s eponymous current album, she’s never been more daring. St. Vincent returns to Buffalo 2 years after her magnificent show at the Town Ballroom for a hotly anticipated and totally sold out show tonight at Babeville’s Asbury Hall. Doors are at 7 PM, with a mystery opener starting proceedings. See you there.

April 10th

April 10, 2014

André Laos – “Yield” Swedish producer and Red Bull Music Academy graduate André Laos is set to release his debut EP, Roundabout for New York-based label Let’s Play House on April 21st. The b-side, “Yield,” is a radiant slice of classic sounding house with soulful vocals, warm synths, and a conga style rhythm. Boasting one of the more infectious choruses in recent memory, the track, as well as the rest of the EP, bring a sun-soaked vibe and impressive sense of pacin for a debut release. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/142862658″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Dauwd – “Kindlinn” One of the most intriguing producers to emerge from the UK in the past few years, London producer Dauwd continues his gradual transition from a minimal garage inspired sound to a more techno style sound on his latest EP, Kindlinn. The title track is an elegant journey filled with the idiosyncrasies and smooth transitions the producer[...]