BUFFALO SUMMER: Desolation Blue (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After ten years of existence and two studio albums, the latest of which, "Second Sun" (2016), gave them a well-deserved recognition, the Welsh band Buffalo Summer are back with a third discographic. The group once again trusted producer Barrett Martin (REM, Queens Of The Stone Age) who took the opportunity to add some percussions and keyboards. The latter also brought one of his protégés to take part in this opus since Peter Buck (REM) comes to play twelve-string and mandolin on two tracks.

If this association of Rock benefactors brings even more credibility to Buffalo Summer's promising career, it is not enough to make this "Desolation Blue" an album that cannot be ignored. Let's be clear: there's nothing bad here and some tracks are clearly worth the trip. Enriched by Kelby Ray Caldwell's lap-steel (The Cadillac Three), 'Hit The Ground Running' offers a hypnotising riff and an unstoppable chorus for an energetic, direct and groovy result with a slight psychedelic touch. 'If Walls Could Speak' is based on a railroad bass with a 70's chorus, oscillating between Whiskey Myers and the Black Crowes. The Black Crowes' shadow also hovers over 'The Mirror' while Free's shadow is present on the explosive chorus of 'When You Walk Away' alternating with aerial and psychedelic verses.

The problem is that the Welsh rock is excellent but it doesn't bring much, even giving the feeling of purring on a second part from which only emerges an 'Everybody's Out For Number 1' with a tempestuous riff and a cynical and catchy chorus. The best example of this is the ballad 'Dark Valentine' already heard a thousand times. It's very well done and Andrew Hunt proves once again that he's a first-rate singer with a spellbinding performance, but you feel like you're hearing Jon Lord's organ (Deep Purple) and you're waiting for Gary Moore's solo. The spectral finale, composed of the folk-rock of 'The Bitter End' and the twilight 'Pilot Light' whose bass seems to pay homage to Twin Peaks, offers however a beautiful melancholy and deserves some attention.

With "Desolation Blue", Buffalo Summer offers the typical example of the album perfectly calibrated and superbly interpreted but which seems to keep the handbrake on, thus preventing the whole from taking off when the potential is obvious. In spite of this, we have here an album that deserves to be listened to. - Official website

BUFFALO SUMMER

DESOLATION BLUE

AUTRE LABEL

ROCK