A dark cloud is on the horizon. There’s a sense that a storm is coming. But while such imagery often suggests bad times ahead, with Holus Bolus (Blues Funeral Recordings), the latest record by brooding Folk-Rock four-piece Lord Buffalo, those coming rains could be a welcome release.
Lord Buffalo clearly know how to build atmosphere. Holus Bolus is heavy with it — like a churning rain cloud in fact, filling the sky. Rather than attempting to dazzle with flashy melodies, the music takes its time, uncoiling, all the while building the tension and intensity.
The opening title track is a case in point, with guitar (and possibly violin) lines shimmering like distant lightning, the bass and drums pulsing beneath.
There’s a certain shamanic quality throughout the record, both in terms of this slow-building music and the performance of frontman Daniel Pruitt — who could be channelling Mark Lanegan, Ian Astbury (The Cult) or Jeffrey Lee Pierce (The Gun Club) and perhaps all of them.
While there is a climax to the album’s opener, elsewhere there’s more tension than release (such as the following instrumental “Slow Drug”). Interesting to have an instrumental as a second track, but in the full expanse of the album it works well and in general Holus Bolus is very well paced.
Often it’s the steady drum beat of Yamal Said that provides a powerful presence underpinning the heavy atmosphere that feels like a storm waiting to break. Still, as the droning “Malpaisano” (seemingly devoid of percussion) demonstrates, the band are no one trick pony when it comes to building tension.
Holus Bolus is an album that could fly under the radar. It doesn’t deal in colourful fireworks, but there’s a kind of low-key majesty about this music. With the violin of Patrick Patterson a key component (and effective use of piano) Lord Buffalo are subtle in how they often steer just enough away from where you think they’ll take the music, to keep the album intriguing.
Ok, go on then, I’m ready for the downpour.
Buy the album here:
https://lord-buffalo.bandcamp.com/album/holus-bolus
8 / 10
TOM OSMAN
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