The solo project of an erstwhile bassist for a myriad of bands, Colorfuzz is the realisation of Kyle Merrits’ dream to craft an album all on his on. It’s culmination, ‘Digital Delay’s, is a psychedelic wave of indie pop/rock sounds with hazy vocals, spacey soundscapes, and an overarching feeling of keen nostalgia. Adopting influences from Tame Impala, MGMT, and others involved in the indie psychedelic sphere, he’s spun a web that holds the style of these pioneers but is bound together by a distinctive wavy production sense of his own.
Kyle is quite explicit on the impact these indie artists have had on him. On the ethos behind the album, he says “I remember the days of all my friends being on bikes, exploring the local woods, and spending the whole summer on an adventure until school came back around. Just having that childhood freedom and looking up into the sky with no clouds while sunset and getting that perfect wind chill that would come here and there“. The soundtrack to these days — a collection of MGMT, Tame Impala, Foster the People, and their ilk. That ‘vibe’, one that you can only truly grasp when you hear an ‘Electric Feel’ or ‘Cause I’m a Man’ or ‘Helena Beat’, is the same that Kyle hoped he could recreate as Colorfuzz.
For the most part, Kyle was quite successful. ‘Digital Delays’ just oozes feelings of nostalgia and atmosphere in every passing track. It definitely prioritises the vibe over lyrics or vocals, focusing on the larger soundscape where the vocals merely play a supplementary part rather than a carrying force in and of itself. Some songs get that nostalgic feeling almost too well, like ‘The One That Got Away/In Memories’. It focuses on not really a loved one, but an entire year being lost and the host of memories that could have been sinking along with it. But it’s got a semblance of optimism to it, reminding you that keeping it alive in memory will be a valuable way to appreciate what’s coming next.
I adore Kyle’s fascination and romanticisation of memories. Far from what many would decry as an unhealthy sense of nostalgia, or looking back on the past with rose tinted glasses, it’s great to relive experiences that enrich you through music. Because music can do that. It can revive dormant feelings, emotions, and events that you’ve cherished but forgotten. Their revival in your headspace can transform how you feel today as well, and that’s where a positive outlook on nostalgia can be so rewarding.
So if you’re a fan of indie rock, of slightly distorted and hazy production, and of the vibe that you’d get from a song like ‘Kids’, ‘Digital Delays’ is a great album to visit. It’s tapped on a musical style that many are obsessed with, but few experiment with. Nostalgia doesn’t have to be a sad thing.
Check my playlists here!