Marshmallow, The Borderline
I’ll start on a positive note – live, Marshmallow live up to the modicum of hype coming from the MOR music press.

They’re a Kiwi four piece formed around Ex Mutton Bird Alan Gregg, who appear to have formed in London, which is probably why our reader in NZ hasn’t heard of them. They’re big fans of harmonies, which some have likened to The Byrds and Crowded House. For me they sound like Hard Days Night era Beatles, which you know, is a pretty good.

Unfortunately, some of the lyrics are a bit, erm, transparent, so songs like Come Sunday about a “love affair that has to be conducted on Sundays because the participants live either end of the Victoria Line”, or Casting Couch about Holywood, are just a bit lacking. What Marshmallow lack in lyrics they make up for in between song banter (perhaps this is why they’ve been compared to Crowded House).

We picked up a copy of the eponymous CD hoping for something similar to the live show. Alas not. The album appears to have been formed with a revolving door policy in regard to the performers lending Alan a hand, and it’s what an ex girlfriend of mine would describe as insipid. Let’s hope they get a chance to lay down some tracks with the current line up, it would be a shame if they couldn’t capitalize on their current sound. It would also help to justify some of the sound bites and 5 star reviews on the cover sticker.

Support is from a family based country outfit (Dad on guitar and backing vocals; sons on guitar, vocals and banjo; mum selling CDs). Not really our thing, but an interesting way to spend the bit of time between arriving at The Borderline and the main act coming on.
- posted by Nigella @ 6:33 PM