On
Memory Girl, the tenth full-length from indie pop vets
Marshmallow Coast, the Athens, Georgia-based group turns to bright synths and smooth tones to translate their quirky melodic missives. It follows 2015's moody Vangelis Rides Again, a brief but rewarding set that saw the Elephant 6 signees heading into lusher, more sensuous territories.
Memory Girl, another somewhat brief eight-song affair, eschews most of its predecessor's dark hues while sharing some of its sonic palette. The songwriting of frontman Andy Gonzales is recognizable throughout, but the album definitely takes direct cues from '80s synth pop, especially on the opening cuts, "Warm Bodies" and "Take You On." Later in the set, "Foxy Boy" adds in mellow, soft rock sax, further emphasizing the D.I.Y. indie pop-meets-'80s-slickness vibe. Occasionally dreamy, a little goofy, but generally quite fun,
Memory Girl is another solid notch in
Marshmallow Coast's extensive canon. ~ Timothy Monger