THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS – SPOOKS

What is it about the Beautiful Girls that resonates so strongly with people? Certainly in their moderately main-stay career they have garnered a wide audience with their coconut-oil infused dubby pop. It seems like they have cut above the plethora of reggae and dub bands from this country and achieved major respect for peddling a style of music that can at best be described as quaint and like-able feel-good reggae,  and at worst, well, Rastafarian beach-combing tedium. Leader Matt McHugh has pursued a solo career in the break between Beautiful Girls albums, to  some acclaim. His return to centre stage as the singer of this group seems to have offered no musical adventures; here we have a soft-edged collection of songs, lightly bubbling along,  peppered with clean brass stabs and staccato guitar work. The band is tight, no question – their carefully controlled synth sweeps and bobbing guitar lines fit the bill. But really, there’s nothing new here – McHugh’s blissed out delivery leaves one feeling too chilled, too complacent to be interesting. This mindset is aptly put in 10:10; “it seems like we’ve been on this journey for way too long”.

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