It's a Friday in the dead of summer and buffaBLOG's Machiavellian (get it? get it?) leader, Mac McGuire, is off so they left me to watch over the new music today. This means FUN, EXCITEMENT, and most importantly, SAXOPHONES!

DIANA is a Toronto based band whose previous credits include recording and touring with Destroyer for the fantastic Kaputt. Similar to that record, DIANA's own music is wistful, atmospheric and teeming with dreamy melancholy. Earlier this week, they released the music video/single, "Perpetual Surrender," the title track of their debut album, set to be released August 20 on Paperbag Records.  The video features a series of kaleidoscopically mirrored  folded and crinkled photos of the lead singer. The video works well with the song's hazy/blissed out/sad tone. Also, there is a haunting saxophone solo in the middle and that is always a reason to take notice.

Right now, you are probably slowly melting from the heat. Don't worry, they say slowly transitioning into a pile of goo is good for the skin, plus you can be more like Alex Mack, and who doesn't want that. I for one love the heat, rather I love sitting in this air conditioned room while I hear about how hot it is from the rest of you. However, I have to be as comfortable as possible because I am hard at work discovering new songs for you to listen to this weekend. You're welcome!

Woods - "Cali in a Cup:" Having left behind the low-fi sound of their earlier releases, this new track benefits from the enhanced recording quality. Aside from the change, this is a fairly standard Woods song, easy paced and catchy. This is the first single off Woods' forthcoming album, Bend Beyond,which is set to be released on September 18.
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DIANA - "Born Again:" A Toronto group whose roster includes members of Dan Bejar's Destroyer project,  "Born Again" echoes the smooth style of the most recent Destroyer LP. Mellow with female vocals winding over an atmospheric groove, this track is a great introduction.




Fang Island - "Seek It Out:" Fang Island specializes in stirring riff heavy songs sounding vaguely like the soundtrack to a game of Dungeons and Dragons taken to a fever pitch. That said, it is still good fun. "Seek It Out," is the newest song off their forthcoming album, Major, which will be released on July 24.




Blur - "Under the Westway:" Despite Damon Albarn's recent threats that Blur and Gorillaz were done (which would have been a serious bummer), Blur released a new song this week. "Under the Westway" is a strong return and hearkens back to some of their best work of the 90s'. A minimal, piano-driven lullaby that leaves me wishing they would release another album. It has been 9 years, please?


Kanye West  w/ Pusha-T - "New God Flow:" So, apparently everyone is putting Pusha-T on their track this Summer. You already heard the new The-Dream song, and now a new Kanye West track featuring the Clipse member. "New God Flow" is a ferocious song with both rappers in good form. The track can be streamed on Kanye West's website.