Buffalo

Chauncey Tails Releases New Beat Collection

February 25, 2015

Gowanda producer Chauncey Tails has become known for his typically brief tracks that feature pitch-shifted vocals and hip hop samples alongside whimsical, lush sounds that create a smooth feel that often ranges from melancholy and introspective to soulful, club-inspired beats. The artist’s latest release, Collection IV, compiles nine tracks made over the last year and provides a comprehensive look at the sound he’s been able to cultivate in that time, with engaging vocal chops, recognizable samples, and visceral percussion and bass. Leading off with, “Only You,” a bouncing, bass-heavy cut, the collection opens with high-energy, ethereal beats before leading into the more melancholy progression on the aptly titled “I Feel Like Nothing But You Are Everything.” “Squirt” features uplifting piano stabs and various warm sounds reminiscent of Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth’s tracks.Perhaps the most impressive drums and bass sounds are found on “Young Drop Top Lexus” that places a fiery hip hop[...]

Mile High Drops Video for “Red Future”

February 25, 2015

December was a great month. It was much less cold, everyone was experiencing the joys of the Christmas season, and Mile High Muzik was dropping a new track every single day. The #Juugcember campaign (led by rapper/producer M-A) brought forth a host of quality hip hop tracks. All styles were fair game for the rap group, and they released everything from boom bap, to some bounce, and of course some good ole trap. Standouts included “Why Are We Here,” “Much More,” and “Red Future,” the first track to get video treatment from the month. In the vid, the Mile High crew and featured rapper Carrera get wavy and jump around while exchanging a heatwave of verses. The camaraderie is contagious, particularly around the Travis $cott-like moaned chorus, which is one of my favorite parts about the track. Fitted with a crimson filter and some promising rappers, the clip sticks to[...]

Cool Little Music Sessions Premieres w/ Mooses

February 24, 2015

It was only a matter of time before another live video session series popped up in the WNY area. With 1809 Sessions, Wonk Sesh, Genesee Live, Quiet Country Audio, and Silo Sessions already in place, lets add Cool Little Music Sessions to that list. Based out of Fredonia’s Pizza Club Productions studios, the series hopes to film local and touring musicians rolling through the college town. For the first installment, the freshman series featured Fred town psych quartet, Mooses, who performed two songs from its debut EP Tales from the Elephant’s Nest:  “In Case They’re Wondering” and “Bette Davis,” the latter just so happened to be our second favorite song out of Buffalo in 2014. Sponsored by Cool Little Music Shop, the video was shot and edited by Joe Cardina, along with additional production contributions from Chelsea Newton, Cam Gordon, and Eric Lemke. You can watch the full clip below, which includes a[...]

Zealot Teases New EP, Releases Alternative Take of “Spent”

February 20, 2015

The fuzzy, Fredonia bred trio, Zealot, have been hard at work on a debut EP for a while now, with hints that a May release seems doable. Today, the three piece teased the forthcoming EP, which is currently titled Foilage, with a new song called “Spent.” The version that will eventually appear on the EP will have a different sound, but for the alternative take on the track, the trio left the influences of Yuck and 90’s fuzz rock behind, and released a song that would fit nicely on a Modern Baseball or Front Bottoms record, or for a local comparison, think Alex Berkley fronting I Can See Mountains. Listen to the alternative take of “Spent” below and keep an eye out for the full EP later this Spring.

Watch Flatsitter’s SAFE WOR(L)D

February 18, 2015

If you have yet to attend one of Flatsitter‘s “shared virtual reality experiences,”  then check out the short clip that was just released to see what you could be getting yourself into when the audio/visual pair throws its next event. The duo debuted SAFE WOR(L)D earlier this year at the Buffalo Niagara Hostel, and just this last weekend, put on another installment at the Foundry Suites on Valentine’s Day. Both events quickly sold out so be on the look out for Flatsitter’s next event if you wish to experience. Watch the SAFE WOR(L)D montage, directed by Kevin Charlies Kline, below.

Red Heat Shares Follow Up EP, Poisoning the Grand High Witch

February 17, 2015

Valentine’s Day is a time of love and passion (and mindless consumerism, but I digress), so it seems almost poetic–ironic, even–that Red Heat put out a fresh slew of political punk songs to digest this February 14th. The EP, titled Poisoning the Grand High Witch, is red hot (heh) and dirty, channeling the emotional rawness of an early Cursive or Desaparacidos and the discordant dance vibes of Death From Above 1979. The new release is currently streaming over on Steak and Cake’s bandcamp page and is available as a pay-what-you-want download. Check out “CHOMSKY” below and follow the link for more of this biting goodness.

Trap Rapper HC Kush Drops “Sly Green”

February 11, 2015

Hood Connect’s HC Kush is a ruthless emcee well-versed in the trap lifestyle, and his latest single, “Sly Green,” is a testament to just that. A menace on the mic, the Buffalo rapper brings a cold authenticity to his lyrics. With a collected tone, he drops lines like “I’m Mr. HC, come and shop with me. 80 percent of my city prolly cop from me,” and “We can’t find you, we kill your family. 32 day city wide killing spree.” Kush doesn’t sugar coat anything. He can be mean, and he’s seen it all. He and Hood Connects have a slew of tracks on their YouTube page worth checking out, and peep out the vid for “Sly Green” below.

Lesionread Releases NSFW Nail Polish Commercial

February 9, 2015

Local troublemaker and art polymath Lesionread released a hilariously NSFW nail polish commercial teasing his album release party next month at Dreamland (rescheduled due to arctic weather) with the recently added Brimstone Blondes, Planet Three, and Joe Bap. This clip is assuredly uncool for viewing at your desk, in church, or at the day care center, but if you get off on flaunting societal convention or can lock the stall door, go for it. As far as the much anticipated show at Dreamland, word on the street has it that not only is there a secret installation is in the works, the long running “feud” between Lesionread and Sleepy Hahas’ Pat Butler will finally be settled by a rap battle. The show starts at 8pm and cover is $5. Meanwhile…. Lesionread Merchandise 2015 (NSFW) from Shawn Lewis on Vimeo.

Passion In Constellation Releases Forfeit The Genre EP

February 9, 2015

Buffalo electronic artist Chris Alan creates genre spanning electronic music as Passion In Constellation, bridging the gap between hip hop, trap, electronica, and dubstep with a highly polished production style that effectively accent the physical nature of his tracks. His latest effort, a three track EP titled Forfeit The Genre, features “Dat Purple Penguin” along with two remixes of previously released songs. “Dat Purple Penguin” begins with a slow pace, mixing atmospheric sounds with pitch shifting vocals before taking a more aggressive turn, set off by a dramatic build and drop. The result is a track that takes many changes in direction, and is best characterized by it’s ability to reach these varied sonic destinations smoothly through careful rises in energy that while drastically alter the mood, do so in an engaging manner. The EP can be purchased on the artist’s Bandcamp page or on iTunes. Watch the video for “Dat[...]

Hot Tip Releases “DNA” Video, Produced by Flatsitter

February 5, 2015

Hot Tip’s new video for “DNA,” produced by Flatsitter, is what your TV does when you’re sleeping. And what your TV does when you’re sleeping is give everyone who’s still awake seizures. It’s a dance party, and someone faceless brought a body suit and a color pallette straight out of a 90’s neon wet dream. Definitely fits the song’s frayed, frenetic vibe. Check it out below. “DNA” by Hot Tip (2015) from FLATSITTER on Vimeo.

Grits Drops Debut EP, Shimshamwhimwhamanditalwayswillbe

February 5, 2015

Between taking over lead female vocals in Mallwalkers and handling bass duties in Mink, Jaz Frazier apparently has working on ANOTHER new project named Grits, which just dropped its debut EP,  Shimshamwhimwhamanditalwayswillbe(yes that is the title), earlier this week. Since debuting her Inquiring Mind project in late 2013, Frazier has always displayed an impressive vocal range and flair on any project she has been involved in. As for Grits, the 5-track EP is full of fuzzy guitars and more spoken word type vocals from Frazier. Think Kitten Forever or Le Tigre and you have a good place to start. Stream the full EP here, and check out, “Thich Nhat Hahn,” the stand out, Pavement-esque track from Shimshamwhimwhamanditalwayswillbe below.

Kristachuwan Releases Seeing Eyes (will not be) EP

February 3, 2015

Electronic producer and former Cinnamon Aluminum multi-instrumentalist, Kristachuwan, is known for his dense arrangements, often combining abrasive sounds with melodic, lush samples to make for an experimental take on electronica, house, and ambient music. Prior to relocating to New Mexico late last month, the artist released his latest EP, Seeing Eyes (will not be), which furthers his style of layering organic sounds in an abstract manner and is yet another unique collection of tracks that share a refreshing sense of playfulness. The album’s title track blends warm, inviting vocal melodies with a stark bass line and gritty, off-kilter percussion, while tracks like “Romanky,” “Bourgeois Harem,” and “Zebra (St. Sophia)” take a more meandering, jazzy approach with saxophone samples, bringing to mind the expansive work of producer Flying Lotus. Similar to the Los Angeles artist, Kristachuwan brings progressive ideas to styles like jazz, funk, and soul in an attempt to put past[...]

Cookie Drops Debut EP, Tell it to the fudge

February 3, 2015

In the essence of Spring newness (we’re getting there) and spontaneity, Cookie, the fresh punk project of Jordan Nittoli (Newish Star, Dream Journal) and Dave Dluga (Softlines, White Whale, Mapmaker) has dropped its debut EP, Tell it to the Fudge. The three tracks listen like a Japandroids / Built to Spill combo– sometimes fast, sometimes brash, but always on point. “Recording these songs was a pleasant surprise” notes Nittoli when asked about the project. “We had messed around with the riff for ‘Research and Development’ a few weeks earlier… thought it would be cool to write a couple more songs, and here we are.” While you shouldn’t expect to catch Cookie live any time soon, new songs may still be on the horizon. “It may continue to be a recording project,” adds Nittoli. “More or less to solidify some floating ideas.” I particularly enjoy the hearty stroll of  “Rule the Universe,” definitely[...]

Alex Berkley Drops First Track from Latest Fun-a-Day Album

February 2, 2015

The start of February means the start of another month of Fun-a-Day. The now annual collective project, where people are asked to do something “fun,” normally artistically fun, every day over the course of our shortest, and at least in Buffalo, most miserable month (see outside currently), is a nice way to get through some winter blues. Curated by Sugar City, the finished products will be on display at the DIY headquarters on March 12th. In what is now becoming a yearly traditional, local singer/songwriter, Alex Berkley, has already begun his Fun-A Day project, following up last year’s ambitious Sick of the Sound of My Voice, and 2013’s 28 Days of Fun. While his 2015 project has yet to be titled, for this year’s album, Berkley has decided set his iTunes on shuffle, and whatever song comes up first, write an original tune about a memory said song conjures. Repeat[...]

Saint Opal Does a Futuristic Croon on Debut Track

January 28, 2015

In the past we’ve featured music from Ez Amadi including his track “Dali,” and now we’ve received news that he’s started a hip hop-RnB collective known as Black Sol. Included in this collective is Ez, recently featured rapper Dean Chatham, and singer Saint Opal, from whom we first hear from below. Floating on a acid-y beat, Opal croons over other-wordly synths on this ambiguous track of longing and apprehension. Her vocals are consummated with a trailing, echoey effect that makes the track ever more haunting. The Black Sol crew is hard at work, with two new tracks on their soundcloud in the past three days. Stay tuned for more from the Erie County crew. I’m anxiously awaiting some more stuff from their other two members, Melo Nymbus and Eddy Haze.  There’s a lot of talent on that roster.