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I have to admit that I'm not really as up to date on the Belgian
music scene as I probably should be, but nonetheless I do believe
it has produced one of my new favorite records. Of course, it
produced it in Europe a year ago, and the band is already working
on its next album, but for those of us marking time in the land
of freedom fries it has only just been released. I hope they can
find someone to distribute the next one right into my hot little
hands a little more promptly.
So, yes, Girls In Hawaii are actually six boys from Belgium,
although lead singer Antoine (they seem to prefer their
anonymity since I cannot find their last names for the life of
me) sings in some heavily accented, and occasionally indecipherable,
English. Apparently these guys have dreams that extend past the
Belgian border, so they've broken out their dictionaries and run
with it. At first, From Here To There is a deceptively
low key record, where there is enough similarity between songs
that if you aren't paying attention, they can seem to run together
a bit. But this slow burner is subtle and layered; with melodies
that are sometimes cool and stylish, sometimes heavy and full
of minor key fun. I don't want to draw too great a comparison
to Coldplay, because they don't necessarily sound that
much alike, but nonetheless From Here To There is evocative
of Coldplay's first album, Parachutes. Guitars replete
with interesting riffs and bittersweet chords alternate satisfyingly
between subdued and driving, and combine with appealing vocals
and appropriately atmospheric keyboards to deliver a most welcome,
salty little slice of downbeat pop.
- Heidi Lamer
Track Listing:
1. 9:00 AM
2. Short Song For A Short Mind
3. Time To Forgive The Winter
4. Casper
5. Found In The Ground
6. The Ship On The Sea
7. The Fog
8. Fontanelle
9. Flavor
10. Organeum
11. Bees & Butterflies
12. Catwalk
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Girls
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