Morning After Girls

Melbourne, Australia’s the Morning After Girls fit nicely into the Rainbow Quartz family of rehashed psych-pop, but they’re not from the same upbringing as most of the label’s acts. Instead, this fivesome grew up on the Jesus & Mary Chain, Spacemen 3, Primal Scream and Swervedriver, or so it appears from the sound of this compilation made up from their first two EPs. Touring with the likes of the Warlocks, the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols will give you an idea of what kind of company they keep, and they’re certainly in the same boat as their tour-mates. The songs on these two EPs are split down the middle, comprising of the same formulas all of these other bands operate by: loud, droning guitar-dominated freak-outs and hushed, acoustic ambient ballads. Recruiting former Ride front-man Mark Gardener to sing on the reverb-drenched "Fall Before Waking” provides an instant go-to track, but surprisingly, it’s not their best moment. The ferocious Stooges meets Primals rocker "Hi-Skies” and the mesmerising guitar work of "Lazy Greys” show off their best moves, with a contrast that is almost shocking. If the names of any of the aforementioned bands are alluring then the Morning After Girls are a sure bet, but Prelude has enough quality within to stand on its own feet without having to rely on influences or peers to sell their music for them.