Buffer_Overflow
Weak Interactions

Seductive and melancholic synth-pop from an eccentric duo.

When it comes to the Italian music scene, people often think only of the mainstream and the junk it offers us. They think of Pausini and the entire melodic line, they think of Vasco Rossi and his breathless rock, they think of Gigi D'Alessio and the whole Neapolitan neomelodic scene... but it's rare to think of a project with a clear and distinct electronic matrix and of a certain level. Buffer_Overflow surprises even with just an EP containing 7 songs. The duo, composed of Milena on vocals and Lorenzo on keyboards, programming, and more, has everything a band needs despite their very young age: musical power, compositional substance, and something important to say.

"Weak Interactions," the name of the album, is the first official EP from the two Romans. Previously released through Musicaoltanza and now freely distributed on LastFM, this work is a true showcase of excellent Electro, Techno, and IDM. 

The EP opens with "Of Having Seen". Thick synths, a 4/4 kick, and arpeggiators mixing everything make this track a true potential electro hit with an alluring and seductive vocal line. From a pumped beginning, the EP moves to more introspective shores with the melancholic IDM-style ballad "Wide" (a small note: the work on voices and effects on this track is really well done). "Rebuilt" is perhaps the best track of the entire work. How to transform a banal synth riff repeated endlessly into a masterpiece of vocal intertwines, strings, reverbs, and delays. The following track "Ed1" is another melancholic electro ballad composed of an oversaturated bass, distorted percussion, a synth line, and filtered overlapping voices: essential and destructive. Then comes the unexpected track "Plastic Comparison"... a poignant song where Milena's voice reaches truly remarkable dramatic peaks on an incredibly dark and dreamy base. "Don't force my open mouth" is perhaps the most challenging track on the album: just piano, voice, and drum machine, the solemnity these two youngsters manage to convey to the listener with just a few sounds is impressive. "I Beneath" is a potential single for live set finales, pure Intelligent Dance Music: direct, powerful, and never predictable.

Ultimately, Buffer_Overflow is undoubtedly a breath of fresh air in the Italian music scene. Young, talented, and introspective, they manage to draw the listener into their dark world with the intention of leaving an indecipherable seed of emotions and passions within them. The influences are evident yet not intrusive: Bjork, Royksopp, and Aphex Twin above all. The only criticism that can be made is the small indecisions in some vocal parts, which are more due to youth than incapacity. 

Recommended listening (it's free anyway):

http://www.lastfm.it/music/Buffer_Overflow/Weak+Interactions