Label: Misra Records
Release Date: November 4, 2003
Marshmallow Coast - Antistar
Lars Gotrich
The bradford pear trees on campus signify springtime in Athens
for me. It's a pretty sight, but damn do they smell awful. And
thus begins "Springtime's Here," the opener to Andy Gonzalez's
5th full-length as Marshmallow Coast, with a Casio beat
backing his subtlely complicated picking patterns, as well as
his girlfriend's (now wife as of a few weeks ago, I think) airy
flute. Andy's voice takes a little getting used to being a bit
nasal, a bit off-key, and a bit tenor, which I guess describes
about half the old Elephant 6 bands.
Which brings me to an important point about Antistar:
Andy's finally gotten out of the shadow of his former band, Of
Montreal. Oh, sure, post-Sgt. Pepper's material can
still be heard, but where else have we heard those laid-rock
classic rock solos on songs like "She Could"? Or more
noticeably, the wonderful presence of Sara Kirkpatrick on
flute, which certainly adds a '70s folk flair to the Coast's
slightly Spanish rhythms.
I think the best moments on the album come on the
instrumentals like "Swift Little Mercury," and "Bizarre
Classical #7." The former highlights a soft, sweet flute
melody over a picked guitar line that glides like a
planetarium. The latter is constructed the same way, yet more
delicate in its approach with beautiful synthesized,
orchestral swells.
I'll admit this the first time I've been able to make it
through an entire Marshmallow Coast album. Gonzalez's
quirkiness in the past became too much after four or five
songs, but here he explores the gamut of his talented guitar
work and writes some lovely pop songs for springtime.
posted 04.13.04 -----
Lars Gotrich really likes to iron clothes. It's true. Send him your pants at lasar59@uga.edu
2002-2004 White Elephant Productions