Buffalo

Cages Share First Single From Vivipary LP

July 14, 2014

Last month, in an interview with Black Dots owner Josh Smith, the shop runner told us that his label, also called Black Dots, would be released the forthcoming album from Buffalo’s free-form, noise collective Cages. Those familiar with Smith’s punk roots would be surprised to find the band on his label, but as he told us “they are one of the best live bands that I’ve seen in the past couple of years.” Late last week, Cages and Black Dots shared the first single, “First Seed,” from the group’s Vivipary LP. The track is challenging and beautiful, like Bjork or Sigur Ros embracing folk music while sprinkling in eerie and unsettling bits of electronic effects. Keep an eye out for the digital and physical release of Vivipary later this summer, and in the mean time, listen to “First Seed” below.

Sleepy Hahas Release Music Video For “Nooses”

July 8, 2014

Buffalo psych-garage four piece, Sleepy Hahas, have released the latest music video from the quarter’s debut LP, Dull Days.  The clip for “Nooses,” the strongest track from the Dull Days, finds the white clad group being hunted down throughout various locations in Bidwell and Delaware Park by some sort of Grim Reaper. Directed by Quiet Country Audio’s Andy Deluca, the video can be viewed in full below. Also, if you get to tonight’s Man Man show at the Tralf Music Hall  on the early side, you may catch a live version of the track as the Hahas are set to open.

Local Songstress, Wolfaerie, Releases Whimsical Full Length

July 2, 2014

Earlier last month, Buffalo-based, experimental pop artist, Wolfaerie, released her debut album Natural Flight, an 8-track collection of delicate blips and beats backing angelic vocals. The album’s stand out track,  the playful, hushed “Ghost Girl,” has shades of Bjork or even a tender, Amber Coffman led Dirty Projectors. Check out the full release over at Wolfaerie’s bandcamp page, and listen to “Ghost Girl” below.

MitchArizona Debuts with a Trippy 7-Song EP

July 2, 2014

Buffalo producer MitchArizona combines ambient beats and chopped, pitched, swirling vocals to create an impressive first EP on Sincerely, Arizona. His creativity in his song composition and structure creates a unique trip-hop experience that you can just vibe to. Some of the songs feature nonsensical vocals and others feature reflective lyrics that Arizona stretches and manipulates to the listener’s desires. It’s a cloudy, thoughtful, and ambitious effort into a burgeoning genre, and I’m excited to see where this talented producer will go from here. Check out “ARZ$ $tillne​$​$” below.

Ignorant Owls Drop Debut Single

July 2, 2014

It’s pretty rare that a Buffalo band pops up on the internet that we have not been clued in on. With that being said, we were delightfully surprised with the debut single “Space Invaders” by Ignorant Owls. Comprised of Joseph Wright, Josh Jager, and Wyle Lukow, the trio’s single channels the lo-fi indietronic hybrid perfected by Wild Nothing/DIIV, meanwhile alluding hints of Harlem Shakes or Passion Pit. Keep an eye out for further music from this new act. In the mean time, listen to “Space Invaders” below.

Mink Releases Debut EP, Point Break

June 27, 2014

From the brains behind Inquiring Mind comes Mink, a new three piece band featuring members of the former said band and Tony Rocky Horror. The trio’s debut EP, Point Break, a surf rock nod to the great(?) Patrick Swayze/Keanu Reeves vehicle, is a fun, yet tense collection of attitude filled vocals and playful bass lines. With a growing surf rock scene on Buffalo’s West Side (Aaron and the Burrs, the Hamiltones), Mink will be in good company. Surf’s up.

Jack Topht & Malt Disney Release Video for “Beef on Weck”

June 26, 2014

Shout out to frequent collaborative duo, Jackt Topht and Malt Disney, for giving Super Flea a proper eulogy. Yes, one of the only places in Buffalo where you could buy a live rabbit, a bong, and a samurai sword all from the same vendor closed up shop for good a few weeks ago, set to be demolished for ANOTHER Walmart. Super Flea held a really weird place in the hearts of many Buffalonians. The place was a dump, smelled awful, and sold some of the more useless items you have ever come across, yet I loved the place, and from the comments on FB during its final weekend, you all did too. So leave it to Buffalo spokesman and wordsmith Jack Topht to film a video for his Teen Wolf produced throw-back jam, “Beef on Weck,” on the Super Flea lot on its last weekend. The clip finds Topht and[...]

New Music from SLPCLSDTH is Great for Sad Ears

June 25, 2014

If you want to listen to a happy song, “The book of plans were not doing,” is not the right choice for you. SLPCLSDTH talks of loneliness, disappointment, and suicide before letting the instrumental take over the conversation. His tone of despair while providing thoughtful lyricism is something we’ve seen in the past, and is a characteristic of his artistry. The beat also has a mystique to it, with swindling strings and nonsensical vocal samples. There’s music for every mood, and SLPCLSDTH continues to refine his conveyance of sadness. Check it out:

Moverealfaststop at Allen Street Hardware

June 23, 2014

This past Friday night, local DIY collective, Sugar City, took over the front and back rooms of Hardware as a part of our Herd Fest weekend. Kicking things off in the back room was Moverealfaststop, a new(er) group that features members of Cross Stitch and Lesionread. A product of the Queen City Music Lottery, the frantic three-piece helped lay an energetic groundwork for what turned out to be one of the best showcases over the long weekend. You can watch a clip from the band’s set, complete with some special guest spoken word and a gnome, below.

Harvest Sum Releases 10th Anniversary Compliation

June 23, 2014

This past Saturday at Nietzsche’s, long time local label, Harvest Sum, celebrated ten years of music in Buffalo. In conjunction with the anniversary party, which was put on as part of our weekend long Herd Fest, the label released a compilation of previously unreleased, new, and rare tracks from Harvest Sum’s past and present. Featuring cuts from Wooden Waves, Roger Bryan & the Orphans, Fourem, Applennium (who, BTW, may have had the best performance of Saturday night), and more, the 8-track comp is a great way to familiarize yourself with one of Buffalo’s best music treasures, which hopefully will still be running strong in another ten years. You can download the entire compilation over at Harvest Sum’s facebook page. While it’s downloading, check out the stunner of a closing track, “I Hope You’re Well, Brother” from Fourem, below.

Cove Explores Humanity’s Strongest Emotion On love.gained/love.lost.too

June 20, 2014

The Essential Vitamins Crew (EVC) of Buffalo boasts “no additives or preservatives,” and that’s exactly what EVC member and hip hop producer Cove has testified to on his latest album love.gained/love.lost.too. The release is a follow up to Cove’s Love.Lost/Love.Gained. release of last February, and it follows a similar soundscape. Cove keeps the track name nearly as simple as possible. Most of the titles are just their number, with the exception of a few dates and the album’s closer. Track “two”begins with a quote from Love and Basketball, in which the main characters as children begin dating. Throughout the album Cove rips scenes depicting different stages of love from movies and uses them as interludes to further portray the album’s themes. “Apr.20” was hardly the pot-smokers anthem one would think considering it’s name. Cove chops up the same vocal sample we’ve heard on Black Hippy’s “Black Lip Bastard” remix, and combines[...]

The Get Money Squad Drops Debut Single, “Back Again”

June 20, 2014

Last night, Quinton Brock of Network and producer Jon Bap debuted an interesting new project called The Get Money Squad. The pair is prepping the release of a debut EP and have shared their first single, titled “Back Again.” Those familiar with Network’s Death Grips inspired live shows will be pleasantly surprised to hear laid back, chiming guitars, and the smooth vocals of Brock, drawing comparisons to the latest albums from both Mac DeMarco and Ducktails. Check out “Back Again” below and keep an eye on the band’s soundcloud page for future tracks.

Local Onlys Drop Mt. Wister EP

June 19, 2014

Jacob Smolinski is one busy man. In addition to leading the charming yet now disbanded group, The Cascos, he is involved with numerous bands, side projects and his own independent record label, Lips Records. Unlike his other bands, however, which seem to exist from the sheer fun of playing and recording, Local Onlys stands out as Smolinski’s most serious and polished endeavor into songwriting. Their new EP, Mt. Wister, shows the band at their most mature yet, but luckily still sports their preppy tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. What struck me the most from the EP is the band’s range of different styles, moving comfortably from quiet acoustic ballad (“Komono”) to fast punk rock (“Ode to an RA”) while still maintaining Smolinski’s signature jumpy pop sound. After only a little less than a year since the band’s formation, it is refreshing to note the other members influence on the songs, particularly[...]

Fotisporn Releases “D Frenzy” Single

June 16, 2014

Speaking of Buffalo vaporwave acts, another interesting track popped up over the weekend from the underground genre in the form of “D Frenzy” from electronic artist Fotisporn. The dark, disco single samples Billy Ocean’s “Carribeen Queen” while backed by smooth horns and has some serious Darkside vibes. Keep an eye out from future releases from this mysterious project. In the mean time, listen to “D Frenzy” below.

Silo Sessions Debuts Nat Baldwin Performance

June 16, 2014

After this weekend’s successful launch party over at Silo City, Silo Sessions, a weekly live video blog, launched its first installment featuring Nat Baldwin of the Dirty Projectors. The blog fittingly kicks of its series with the artist whose performance was one of the inspirations of the project. The stand up bass extraordinaire, who has made it a habit of performing in Buffalo over the years, delivers a stunning and haunting performance in the site’s inaugural session. Silo Sessions will be releasing a new session, all filmed within Silo City’s grain elevators, every week over the coming year, featuring performances from both local and touring acts, many of whom played Saturday night’s event. Follow Silo Sessions website for future installments. Watch the full session with Nat Baldwin below.