Somewhere, Anywhere

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ALBUM INFORMATION

Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 39:46

eMusic Review

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Amelia Raitt

eMusic Contributor

Amelia Raitt is a former writer for the television program Mr. Belvedere and has been writing about pop music of all colors and stripes for eMusic since 2005. S...more »

04.22.11
New Buffalo, Somewhere, Anywhere
2007 | Label: Arts & Crafts / IODA

If Sally Seltmann's delicate vocals and uniquely orchestrated indiepop sounds a bit familiar, don't worry. It's her songwriting talents that were behind Feist's first single from The Reminder, "1234." Seltmann's light touch is similarly all over her second album as New Buffalo, Somewhere, Anywhere. Rarely does the instrumentation reach past a few pieces on each track — a piano here, a snatch of accordion there — but Seltmann's voice fills the void, somehow sounding tentative and wholly assured at the same time. The songs on Somewhere aren't nearly as lush as those found on The Reminder, but that's not the point. Seltmann carves out her own unique space, in which these droning, circular songs can become a sort of pop music as well.

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Very Enjoyable

chelster759

Delightfully quirky and melodic...favorite tracks are Cheer Me Up and City and the Sea, but I really do like them all.

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Lovely.

Velvethope

What a lovely surprise. I am not sure what I was expecting, but I'm really digging this album right now. It's poppy, it's indie, it's soft, it's mellow, it's love. There's a sort of magic about the singer's voice - most definitely. Try it - it'll get under your skin and stay there. Favourite track so far is It's True, but they're all just wonderful as far as I can tell after a few listens.

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They Say All Media Guide

Like Britain’s Los Campesinos!, the Australian indie electronic outfit New Buffalo are expanding the artist roster of Canada’s increasingly impressive Arts and Crafts label beyond its roots as the house organ of Toronto’s Broken Social Scene and their many offshoots. But unlike the debut Los Campesinos! EP, which somewhat awkwardly marries the trademark Broken Social Scene post-rock sound to an indie pop band that has more in common musically with the likes of Art Brut, Somewhere, anywhere. is the work of a musician who has found her own voice. Sally Seltmann, who for all intents and purposes is New Buffalo, has roots in the Aussie indie pop scene of the early ’90s, but Somewhere, anywhere. is a sparse and primarily electronic album of dreamy, minor-key tunes that trade in subtlety and delicacy. Seltmann plays nearly every instrument, with her piano at the base of most of the songs; at times, as on the quirky, childlike “City and Sea (Lady Nameless),” Seltmann’s piano and coolly inviting vocals are almost alone, with only occasional vaporous trails of electronics shimmering across. Elsewhere, Seltmann accompanies herself with flute, accordion, and other unexpected musical accents, but throughout, her immediately appealing voice and abstract, poetic lyrics remain at the forefront. Fans of early Kate Bush, Emily Haines’ solo records, and Laura Nyro’s trio of classic albums will find much to appreciate here. – Stewart Mason

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