Lord Buffalo’s music possesses a weight reminiscent of ethereal entities and swirling particles of dust. The Austin, TX-based Psych-Americana band’s sonic impact is profound, yet intangible, flowing through listeners without provoking the expected responses typical of heavy rock music. Their latest album, “Holus Bolus,” draws its name from an antiquated term meaning “all at once,” a fitting descriptor for the immediate immersion experienced from the first notes of the opening title track. The album captivates with its skillful fusion of droning violin, guitars, drums, and vocals, evoking influences ranging from Morricone and Badalementi to Sabbath and Swans.
While Lord Buffalo traverses similar emotionally dense terrain as artists like David Eugene Edwards/Woven Hand, Chelsea Wolfe, and Nick Cave, their innovative blend of Middle Eastern elements with a distinctly Western sensibility charts new musical territories. Comprised of Daniel Pruitt (guitar, bass, piano, vocals, melodica), Garrett Hellman (guitar, sub-bass, piano, synths), Patrick Patterson (violin), and Yamal Said (drums, percussion), the band crafted “Holus Bolus” under the guidance of producers Danny Reisch and Max Lorenzen.
Reflecting on the album’s creation, Pruitt remarks, “While the making of this record feels a bit like a sleep-deprived hallucination to me…Listening to it now, I find it strangely hopeful — there’s a kind of release that you hit in exhaustion.” He describes the album’s emergence as if it materialized suddenly and completely, embodying the essence of “holus bolus.”
“Holus Bolus” will be available worldwide on vinyl, CD, and digital formats via Blues Funeral Recordings on July 12, 2024.
