The debut full-length from
Morella's Forest is defined by fuzz and rowdy in reverb. There's no getting around the influence of
Cocteau Twins or
My Bloody Valentine, but it's a testament to the talent of vocalist Sydney Rentz and her band of boys that
Super Deluxe rarely sounds dated or derivative. Lo-fi-ish production does a great job of separating Rentz's ethereal vocals from guitars that rise in waves ("Lush of Spring") or dwell on tiny phrases ("Wonder Boy"), and Nate McCorkle's drums snap with immediacy underneath all of that dreamy vocalizing and guitar noise. "Superstar" channels new wave into indie pop noise, while "Fizzle Kiss" returns to echoing caverns with a
Smiths-influenced bassline leading alternately chiming/roaring guitars. Maybe it's nostalgia that makes this record so effective. After all, from its very name through the obviousness of its pacing and influences,
Super Deluxe seems like a relic from the mid- to late-'80s college charts. But it's more likely
Morella's Forest itself, which seems to be just as nostalgic as the listener, yet able enough in the songwriting department to create its own identity. Highlights include the romantic squall of "Glowing Green" and "Puppy Luv"'s mumbled come-ons. Pick up a copy today, and buy a beatnik smock. ~ Johnny Loftus