The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo (2010)

I don't really know that many bands from New Zealand, but the ones I know tend to be really cool. The Phoenix Foundation is one of them. I think I first heard their music in Spotify's discovery list that is curated to match the bands I frequently listen to. The Phoenix Foundation plays indie pop with some light psychedelia elements. On the more recent albums, they've also used lots of space effects in their sounds, but the main sounds are still made with quite conventional instruments. I bought the album at Fopp here in London about a year ago when the indie record label Memphis Industries albums were there for sale. I haven't listened to this album massively since I bought it, but it's really nice for relaxed moments at home in the weekends. I also have one of their more recent albums which I like more.



It's crazy that this band has existed since 1997. For more than 20 years now. Their first debut album wasn't released until 2003 though. It's still quite phenomenal that this band is still going strong considering that Buffalo was their first album that made any kind of appearance outside New Zealand. I guess it has become easier more recently to get your music heard by new audiences with services like Spotify and even if you don't yet tour in other countries you can still get fans elsewhere. Funnily enough, I think The Phoenix Foundation sounds a bit like the French band Phoenix. Both bands were founded in the same year, so I think their names are just a coincidence.

The album starts with a mellow surf-rock ballad Eventually. This song has some wavy electric guitars that resemble waves of the ocean. The title-track Buffalo was the biggest hit on the album and I can see why. There's a nice danceable beat in throughout the song, a catchy chorus and a growing intensity. Flock of Hearts has a nice relaxed beat and laconic vocals that remind me of another New Zealand artist Lawrence Arabia. Pot sounds like many other cool indie rock bands around 2010. There are some folky elements, but at the same time, there are yells that appeal to young listeners, because they can sing along to it on gigs. Bitte Bitte is another hit song on the album. The backing vocals remind me of the Canadian band Hidden Cameras. This is very honest indie rock with simple melodies and instrumentations. Skeleton is one of the more experimental songs on the album. There's lots of echo in the electric guitars and the melody and rhythm changes seem to be influenced by progressive rock. There are also some interesting electronic sounds in the background. Orange & Mango is a bit too happy a song for my taste. It reminds me of Vampire Weekend. It's one of those songs that get stuck in your head. Bailey's Beach tones the mood down. You almost get drowsy listening to it. Wonton has slightly 80's style sounds, but the song itself is pure 00's indie rock with some excellent synths. Golden Ship ends the album in slightly psychedelic drowsiness.

The title track Buffalo has a great music video. There's a small boy who is timing how long he can hold his breath under water in a bath. Suddenly he sees a woman diving in what looks like an ocean in front of him. Then the boy starts holding his breath while in bed or on a bus and following the woman. In the end the same woman finds the boy with a search party from a forest.

I don't know if The Buffalo Foundation is that exciting of a band really, but I do like their sounds and song enough that I sometimes like to listen to them. This is the kind of music that might sound a bit outdated in another ten years or so, because the sounds are so clearly from the early 2010's. We'll see what happens. Anyway, I enjoy listening to it now.

Listen to the album on Spotify.