Ask yourself–do you like Belgian indie-pop? Not a question most people can readily answer off the top of their head, but that’s Girls In Hawaii–who are actually guys. Confused yet?
This band really is a little difficult to classify or compare to another, but you can hear hints of the Flaming Lips and Blonde Redhead. Once in a while you can even hear a little Radiohead if you are paying attention. The lyrics are in English, and the sound is dizzy and fuzzy, but it manages to be melodic all at the same time. It’s a “glass half full” kind of sound, and the best part is that they know it–and work it.
Carrying things a little off-balance with some minor chords keeps it interesting, and the soothing, whispery vocals are almost “groovy” on some tracks they’re so seamlessly blended in harmony. It disguises the fact that French is the band’s first language, although the accent does slip through occasionally. It peeks out just enough to add an unusual sound to the words that you can’t quite put your finger on unless you already know what it is.
As a whole, the album doesn’t grab you by the shirt, and takes a few listens to settle in, but it has some layers that you might miss the first round that light up upon closer examination. They won’t light you on fire, but they will give you a nice, warm glow that lasts long after the last track is over. Girls In Hawaii are different enough that they just might stick around on the music scene outside their country. Time will tell.
For more info see: girlsinhawaii.be
