Water

Water

Riding an easy, feel-good groove that fans of Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, or G. Love would appreciate, Australian trio (guitar, bass, drums) the Beautiful Girls creates laid-back, mostly acoustic music that stays deep in the pocket, with a solidly swinging backbeat, some subtle reggae rhythms around the edges, and a tender side that suits their name. Water contains material selected from their five previous releases (mostly EPs) in order to give audiences outside of their native Oz a complete picture of their music. And despite being a compilation, Water flows well enough to be a coherent album in its own right. Singer and guitarist Mat McHugh has a pleasant, soulful voice, and he can sing softly over an acoustic guitar progression or pull off a hip-hop-influenced vocal delivery just as convincingly. Featuring tight, bluesy jams (“Periscopes,” “On a Clear Day”), sunny-day vibes (“Good Times,” “Weight of the World), and a funky instrumental (“At the First Sign of Trouble”), this is mood music for the beach or a shady porch.

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