This is just a fantastic album from a band who sound utterly comfortable with who they are and where they're going. Gorgeous melodies, sharp lyrics, this is music to day dream to grinning stupidly as much as it is music to revel in and curse the reality that there's nothing coming from UK that gets close to this quality. Influences abound - 80s indie darlings House of Love can be heard in the title track and Bitte Bitte and as with their previous work the spectre of Chills genius and fellow Kiwi Martin Phillips looms in the background. But anyone charmed by Beta Band and Steve Mason's solo stuff will love this, as would fans of Super Furry Animals at their very best (i.e Phantom Power). And then theirs smatterings of Pink Floyd, Beatles, Flaming Lips, Smiths...but like all great bands influences and nothing more. Buffalo has the stamp of originality to it, the kind that comes with relative geographic isolation.
The Phoenix Foundation have finally arrived in the UK - get this then work your backwards through their previous three albums - every one essential listening and with its own character. They're also currently on tour - supposedly as good live as they are recorded. So what's left to say - top draw stuff from a band whose day has finally arrived.