dBmagazine.com.au

CDs:
· New Buffalo
(We liked it and you will too!)

· 78 Saab
· American Music Club
· Blu Mar Ten
· Buffalo Daughter
· Coal Chamber
· Elvis Costello & The Imposters
· The Concretes
· The Cops
· The Dresden Dolls
· Dr John
· Fatboy Slim
· Ikara Colt
· Les Savy Fav
· Little Birdy
· Rammstein
· REM
· Rogue Wave
· Guy Sebastian
· These Arms Are Snakes
· The Unicorns

Live:
· Missy Higgins
· Jet
· Mark Lanegan Band
· Royal Crown Revue
· Unwritten Law, MxPx
· The Von Bondies

New Buffalo
The Last Beautiful Day
Dot Dash/Remote Control/Inertia

It was once suggested by the late David McComb of seminal Australian band The Triffids that the one thing that was missing in most local music was atmosphere. Although The Triffids may have little in common with Melbourne artist New Buffalo - aka Sally Seltmann - upon listening to 'The Last Beautiful Day' I couldn't help but be drawn in by the atmosphere that Seltmann creates with apparent ease.

After her debut EP, 'About Last Night' some years back, 'The Last Beautiful Day' represents New Buffalo's first full-length effort from. For anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing her first release, seen a live performance, or heard any of these songs on the radio, I urge you to discover this record so as to save me the difficulty of trying to describe the joy I've experienced listening to it. Numerous tracks possess a unique, almost lounge-pop style that leaves you in two minds, whether to dance, or relax and ponder their beauty. Usually the best decision is to try and dance ever so slightly within the confines of your chair.

An interesting quality of this album is the varied styles captured throughout that seem to mesh so effortlessly (as shown by the opening Recovery) resulting in an excitingly original release. One song I'll never tire of hearing is the uplifting and almost dreamlike No Party, which benefits from the sprawling drumming of the Dirty Three's Jim White as the perfect counterpoint to Seltmann's lovely vocals. Along with the White's contributions on a few songs, the album is also graced by the lovely presence of Beth Orton who provides backing vocals for the wonderful Inside.

Despite numerous highlights, the pinnacle of this release can only be described as the most beautiful song in recent history: Come Back. Seltmann's uncanny ability to capture a sound that encompasses the feelings of both loneliness and longing so well is astounding. What's so impressive about 'The Last Beautiful Day' is that Seltmann takes certain risks in order to achieve her unique sound and those risks pay off handsomely, creating the perfect example of an atmospheric Australian release.

Scott Townsend

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