by Stewart Mason

Aside from mono-named lead singer Antoine's occasional accent, one would not guess that the sprightly pop band Girls in Hawaii is Belgian. Musically, the group inhabits what's best described as indie-land, a place where all the guitars are jangly, the vocals are thin but appealingly low-key, organ and electric piano underlie the songs, the drums are regularly supplanted by tambourines and shakers, and the bass is all but inaudible. However, although From Here to There is strictly standard-issue indie pop, it's not without its charms. The songs don't stint on the melody, and a few have choruses that are catchy enough to make up for the largely forgettable lyrics, most notably "Time to Forgive the Winter," which also boasts the album's biggest guitar hooks. Some more personality would go a long way, but Girls in Hawaii manage to be inoffensive in their pleasant mediocrity.