Lime Forest - Catharsis

Lime Forest

​Catharsis
self-released; 2016

3.5 out go 5

By Ted Rogen 

Rick Sniegowski is the creative force behind Lime Forest. He recruited Alex Woodworth, Arnav Chevula and Oriol Ramon to help perform the three songs off of Catharsis. The songs are undeniably catchy and psychedelic existing somewhere between Tame Impala, Mikal Cronin and Of Montreal. 

It is pretty poppy music but in a very good way. The melodies are fun, often memorable and are never cringe worthy. 

The EP starts with the upbeat  “Mourning Letter.” I was enjoying the light jammy vibe and the bold move to have a guitar solo before a word is uttered. Considering how upbeat the song is I thought the juxtaposition against the lyrics worked well. Sniegowski sings, “I don't know what it is today /Seems like everything's going the opposite of your way / Consider this a sympathetic mourning letter / Wipe those teardrops off your ugly christmas sweater.” The song is solid all around. It may have benefited from being trimmed by about a minute but that’s arguable. 

Up next is “Lemon Tundra” which is a song you might get stuck in your ear. I enjoyed the layers of either synths or additional guitars under the rhythm guitar and the buoyant bass line. The vocal melody is fantastic and really makes the song. Lyrically the words are a bit more ambitious than on the opener. Sniegowski sings “The lemon tundra, is sweet and cold / The lemon tundra, it soothes the soul / It takes control of you like gum on the bottom of your shoe / Like gum on the bottom of your shoe.”

“Apple Acid” is another success and certainly has some hints of Tame Impala. Either way the song is poppy goodness. The song utilizes reverb and modulation to give a hazy, psychedelic effect.

Catharsis is an appetizer of an EP that builds a nice foundation for Sniegowski. I’m hoping to hear a full-length from him sometime in the not too distant future. 

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