By Tova O’Brien
The Phoenix Foundation have just released their fourth studio album Buffalo, saying it is the most collaborative album they’ve ever made.
It may also be a world first for the recording industry.
Nightline was invited for an exclusive look into what may or may not be the band’s best kept secret.
Stepping into the top secret recording studio where Buffalo was recorded, was like stepping into a time machine.
Sam Scott and Luke Budda of the Phoenix Foundation may have used ancient technology – but it is still cutting edge.
“It’s like an eight track recorder, but it’s made up of these mono tape reels, so everything is recorded on this giant recording device. They have a lot of excess air that you have to let off before you start recording,” he explain.
It’s not just something you can pick up from your local Rock Shop either.
“You have to order this from somewhere, like Palmerston North,” says Scott.
It has been three years since the band’s last album was released, but they’ve stayed firmly in the spotlight.
The Phoenix Foundation composed and recorded scores for Taika Waititi’s Eagle vs Shark and Boy.
Buffalo signals a reunion after an unintentional break, which gave everyone time to focus on solo projects.
“It felt like we weren’t weighed down by what we’d done in the past, but we were doing something new and the energy was really good,” says Scott.
Buffalo is an album that gets back to basics.
Scott and Buda have been playing music together since they were 14 years old. While Scott denies there is any competitiveness between the pair, Buda admits he has succumbed to the odd pang.
“When he got his station wagon, when he got his Mitsubishi Legnum I was pretty pissed off,” he says.
But who needs a Legnum when you’ve got a tugboat? The Phoenix Foundation are chugging along on their New Zealand tour starting in Takaka next Wednesday.
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