For those new to Morella's Forest, Tiny Lights of Heaven is pure pop featuring what Big Beef Records calls Sydney Rentz's "beautiful and alluring" vocals. If you're familiar with the band, you may have been disappointed with the vocals being mired underneath instrumentation. Good news: unlike 1996's Ultraphonic Hiss, guitars here are lighter, also bringing a sweet balance to Rentz's voice, keyboards, and drums. From the outset, "Running" and throughout most of Tiny Lights of Heaven, many songs are in a pure pop vein, reminiscent of Belinda Carlisle or the Halo Friendlies (the band cites Stereolab, the Cardigans and Ivys as contemporary influences). There are excellent lyrics in "Shining Stars," "Lullaby," "Sand and the Sea" (much of Tiny Lights may be too '60s retro for many listeners; this one is perhaps a bit too close to "The Girl from Ipanema"), and "Never Let Go." Unlike other projects I've heard from Morella's Forest from their Tooth and Nail days, the listener will find at least two from this collection of the "sticks in my mind" and "I'm humming it all day long" quality. On the other hand, the absence of heavier guitars as featured on the band's previous T&N recordings may be too much of a gear shift for some fans. This project is very short (tracking in less than 40 minutes). Overall, Tiny Lights of Heaven is a very pleasing project and a move in the correct direction for Morella's Forest.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Matt ModrichFour years after leaving Tooth and Nail, Morella's Forest is back with their fourth record Tiny Lights of Heaven. Along with their new labels, Big Beef and Endearing Records, they also have a new sound. When Morella's Forest first began they sounded like a female version of Starflyer 59. But these days they have shed the heavily distorted guitars for bubblegum pop and hushed vocals, which likens…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Ken MuellerAfter a four-year layoff, the kids from Morella's Forest are back on a new set of labels with a slightly modified lineup...and the results are quite nice. Exit the shoegazing of yesteryear and enter a more melodic, indie-pop sensibility. Sydney Rentz's understated vocals will remind some of Beki Hemingway, but with a bit less pop and a bit more of an edge. A beautiful voice that most any guy will…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Jeff EdwardsMorella's Forest apparently went through some changes during the four-year layoff from their last release. The most evident on paper are the personnel changes, but paper is not necessary to hear the difference immediately. From track 1 - "Running," the listener needs to check the CD case time and time again to make sure this is really the same band that released Ultraphonic Hiss and Super Deluxe.…Similar sounding releases
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