Luke Buda (vox, guitar, keys), Craig Terris (drums, vox), Steve Gallagher (keys), Tim Prebble (bass).
Influences
The Beatles, Vangelis, Air, Led Zeppelin,The Smiths, Beck, The Clean, Black Sabbath, Pavement, Neil Young, Grandaddy, Goblin, Ennio Morricone, Angelo Badalamenti, Radiohead, Supergrass, Flaming Lips...
LUKE BUDA releases VESUVIUS!
In 2006 Buda released his first full-length solo album, "Special Surprise". The album was extremely well received and described as follows:
“Perfectly formed pop artefacts crystallise out of prog-rock overtures; bombastic instrumentals dissolve into heart-melting ballads” (Nick Bollinger – The NZ Listener).
Following "Special Surprise", Buda has been busy with his band The Phoenix Foundation: they released third album "Happy Ending", recorded the soundtrack to the movie "Eagle Vs Shark", and toured the USA a couple of times. On the domestic front there has been a home and a family.
However, out of this whirlwind something exceptional has emerged. Buda has pompously entitled it "Vesuvius"...
Harbouring an unfortunate and perhaps unfair suspicion of anything too new ("they don’t make music like they used to, sonny!")… at the time of writing the album Buda was most inspired by the supreme ultra studio sounds of 70’s super FM pop. Namely: Electric Light Orchestra. So blame it on Jeff Lynne!
"Vesuvius" was recorded by award winning Lee Prebble at his renowned Wellington studio, The Surgery. Featuring Craig Terris and Tom Watson (of Cassette), Andrew Bain (Fur Patrol), David Long (The Mutton Birds), Tim Prebble, Stephen Gallagher, Kezia Nell Hinchey, Sophie Burbery, and fellow Phoenicians Conrad Wedde, Samuel Flynn Scott and Will Ricketts, Vesuvius has, at its heart, well-written songs that are somehow both sorrowful and jovial.
Further points of interest:
RESN’s award winning (FWA Site of the Day no less!) website for Luke www.specialsurprise.co.nz is finally online! Check it out… maybe a little creepy but certainly cool. Stop your business and check dis.
We would also like to point your attention to the album art - featuring Buda reaching out to the icy melodic expanse. Created by Amelia Handscomb and Myriam Catrim.
The video for the first single, the cheery “My Imminent Demise” was made by Oscar nominated Taika Waititi (Eagle Versus Shark). The video was shot in three hours of madness and cost but a couple of beers and a sensual massage.
Here it is!
And of course the wonderful Luke Savage directed video to the title track from "Special Surprise".
Fourth Album Arrives January 2010! American Dollar MP3 Discography Special, Only $20 For All Four Albums! Go To: www.theamericandollar.info/merchstore.html Thanks For Listening!
"Best Flatground Trick" Find or do your Best Trick on Flatground. 1 trick per video, get tech.... anyone can enter. ... and win complete skateboard. www. sk8dependent. com
* JANUARY 2008 Monthly Contest Winner: Dan Cameron from New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada. Check his footage on our site. ** New Team Rider in March... keep posted. :)
