published: 17 /
12 /
2001
Label:
Kindercore
Format: CD
It's getting harder and harder to keep track of all the Elephant 6 related records being put out these days. Every other week there seems to be a new release and luckily most of them are good at forgi
Review
It's getting harder and harder to keep track of all the Elephant 6 related records being put out these days. Every other week there seems to be a new release and luckily most of them are good at forging new paths into 60s and 70s psych/rock. The Marshmallow Coast is no exception. Their new full-length is a great excursion into skewed retro flavored pop music.
Largely the work of Andy Gonzales, who also moonlights in Of Montreal and Music Tapes, the record features 16 tracks of pure magic. The album opens with ' Audience Is Listening', 35 seconds of swirling Wurlitzer which leads into the 70's west coast sounds of "Lilypad".
Melody is what counts here and the record is chockablock with it. The usual guitar, bass and drums are augmented with fluglehorn, marimba, singing saw, and various sound effects. 'Golden Harp' is a lovely song with its acoustic guitar strumming and piano tinkling as well as the backup harmony provided by Dottie A ( Who, surprise!, also plays in Of Montreal).
'Bizzare Classical VI" sounds as if someone is practicing their piano scales until the vocal harmonies rise out of the background and various bits of sound and voices collide into the shape of a dream. Album closer 'Lil Fun Machine' has the same charm as playing with a keyboard in the local electronics shop and reminds me a little bit of Ween.
All and all, there is a child-like innocence about this record which makes me hope that these folk never grow up.
Track Listing:-
1
Audience Is Listening
2
Lilypad
3
Hung-Up
4
Golden Harp
5
Oblong Destiny
6
Bizzare Classical V
7
Loneliest Heart In Texas
8
Siddartha
9
Blow My Mind
10
Shimmering In A Bulb Of Glass
11
There Will Come A Time
12
Bizzare Classical VI
13
In The Sea
14
Insane
15
Audience Is Deaf
16
Lil' Fun Machine