New Buffalo returns as Sally Seltmann for Canadian Music Fest

Sometimes festival buzz can be a buzzkill. Singer Sally Seltmann, formerly known as New Buffalo and forever known as co-writer of Feist's '1234,' opened the hotly tipped Arts & Crafts showcase at Canadian Music Week / Canadian Music Fest last night but her pretty piano songs were at a pain to be heard by an audience eagerly awaiting award-winning singer Dan Mangan and murder balladeer Timbre Timber.

Typical festival experience for the newbies, right? But as Seltmann pointed out -- twice -- she flew over from Australia for the privilege of being drowned out.

Her new album (and first under her own name), 'Heart That's Pounding,' is scheduled for release on A&C on April 6. She played the first single, the joyous retro pop 'Harmony to My Heartbeat' with gusto and a full band, which reverberated around the majestic Great Hall theatre and yet landed on mostly deaf ears.

Other tunes flatlined under Seltmann's half-hearted (perhaps defeated?) delivery -- and the choice to end on a particularly quiet acoustic guitar number didn't exactly leave 'em wanting more.

Most of the material was about longing and wishing. Perhaps Seltmann will get her wish for a more attentive audience at her second CMF set tonight (she'll showcase with fellow Aussies at the Rivoli) or maybe she should continue to farm out the best material to more commanding performers.