• Image of PHANTOM BUFFALO ~ TAKE TO THE TREES ~ cd (TIME-LAG / RED RECORDS #3)

red records #3… well, its been a damn long time since we released their debut album, “shishimumu”, back when they were called THE PONYS, but we sure are happy there’s finally a proper follow-up, even if it took six years to happen. if anything, the long wait says something to the greatness & humility of the band; never bending to commercial concerns, ego, hype, or changing trends & changing times. in fact, “take to the trees” picks up just about right where “shishimumu” left off all those years back, another little nugget of timeless psychedelic pop perfection. of course, there is a new level of maturity and depth to the songwriting here, but there's still plenty of slightly naive & youthful charm… and to be certain, the world these guys create is just as surreal now as its always been… musically, things come together just right, with thick, swirling, chiming triple electric guitar textures, spot-on drumming, liquid but powerful bass, gurgling moog, acoustic strumming, accordion, and sweet soaring fuzz-tones. vocals hover as high & sweet as ever, harmonizing, doubling, and layering heavenly. the mood of the album floats through drifting fragile melancholy, quirky pop, crunchy psychedelic rockers and anthemic rave-ups, often all within the same track. beautifully recorded, but never over polished… just the way a great pop record should be. so forget all pretense, folks, maybe not "freak folk" enough for kill rock stars ain’t such a bad thing at all…

cd version : digital version of the sold out red vinyl edition. same music and art, but packaged in a mini lp style gatefold cover, with folded insert & woven japanese inner sleeve. edition of 1000.

released july 2008.