Japanese art-rock pioneers Buffalo Daughter have announced We Are The Times, their first new album in seven years, out on September 17th, 2021, alongside the first single from the record “ET (Densha)” available on all digital streaming services now.
Since their 1996 debut on the legendary Beastie Boys-run label Grand Royal, Buffalo Daughter has been recognized as an original and energetic standout in the modern Japanese music scene. Over their decades long career, The band has pushed their unique post-rock, new wave, and techno influenced sound to global success, from numerous world tours to collaborations with many prominent acts including Air, Blonde Redhead, Cibbo Matto, and Shonen Knife.
The music video for their new single “ET (Densha)” was created by Berlin based artist Ryoichi Kurokawa, illustrating the worldbuilding sensation of the track with a sense of delicate power. “ET (Densha) is our soundscape for the world we currently live in,” the band wrote in a statement. “Darkness and light, chaos and harmony, intensity and ease – they seem to be black and white, but are they really? Where are we going? Take the ET (electric train) and let the journey begin.”
We Are The Times started from an improvisation session with Masaya Nakahara as part of a tribute program for Takahiro Muramatsu(Smurf Otokogumi). The album took quite some time to record, growing and changing with the band members’ shifting lives and world views as they navigated the covid-19 pandemic. Though the record was created during a tumultuous period, it starts with the phrase “Music is the vitamin,” indicating Buffalo Daughter’s hope for positivity in the world of 2021; the band sought to create an energetic and optimistic project to combat our anxious times. The vibrancy of their sound on the album is perhaps best summed up in this quote from collaborator Masaya Nakahara:
“A bright fruit of electronic sound! Buffalo Daughter’s new sound shows the light for where we should head to in this chaotic world.”
“We Are The Times” will be released digitally and physical CD (only available in Japan) on September 17th with vinyl to follow on October 15th.
Keep your mind open.
[Take the short trip to the subscription box while you’re here.]
[Thanks to Jake at Ramp Global.]
