Fronted by Timothy Gassen, the Marshmallow Overcoat have been keeping the spirit of psychedelic garage rock alive for 30-odd years.
Greatly prolific, the Tucson, Arizona band claims a massive collection of singles, albums, videos and appearances on various compilations.
It is also important to note how consistently exciting and imaginative the Marshmallow Overcoat’s output is. The band’s latest single – “Wait For Her / The Marshmallow Theme” (Hypnotic Bridge Records) – duly enforces their regal reputation through and through.
Plastered with swirls of chiming guitars encompassing ethereal patterns and emitting rays of blinding light, the Marshmallow Overcoat’s “Wait For Her” is further bolstered by stirring harmonies and simmering melodies. Spectrally cool Timothy Gassen vocals deftly counter the star-spangled sounds with a moody bent. Visualize a band made up of members of the Byrds, the Doors, Love and the Strawberry Alarm Clock, and there you have it.
The ringing hum of a 12-string guitar proceeds to wield its wizardry on “The Marshmallow Theme,” while the bouncy tones of an organ provide the track with an additional fun factor. The first part of the cut moves to a swinging groove, punctured with a lively chorus declaring “We’re the Marshmallow Overcoat” and inviting listeners to float away, before turning into a hive of buzzing backward guitar squiggles worthy of Revolver-era Beatles.
The employment of vintage instruments, paired with the Marshmallow Overcoat’s right-on instinct for playing paisley-padded pop rock gives these songs a totally authentic feel. It is no exaggeration to say “Wait For Her” and “The Marshmallow Theme” are so genuine and convincing that you would think they were recorded by a long-lost ’60s band.
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