Sometime around the fag end of 2002 I caught The Beautiful Girls at the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden with my brother and about 50 other punters (if that). The gig was cracking to say the least and from that time on I have been privileged enough to see them a number of times as they continually released new material.

Unfortunately for our brothers and sisters outside Australia, they have had to make do with only the 2005 album We're Already Gone to satisfy their Beautiful Girls cravings lest they shelled out for expensive import copies of the earlier recordings.

Thankfully this handy compilation entitled Water has been released to help paint a more complete picture of the Sydney roots trio. From laidback beginnings on the Jack Johnson/Sublime influenced mini album Morning Sun which contained the groundswell single 'Periscopes' to the more experimental Goodtimes EP and their first full length album (the meditative Learn Yourself) The Beautiful Girls have really run the gamut of musical styles in such a short space of time.

While their output pre-2005 has always been strong, with Water you are getting nothing but the best. Thankfully the set list is done chronologically to ensure you track the trio's development. In a nice touch, the midway point is the instrumental 'At The First Sign Of Trouble' which works as a transition from what they were to what they eventually become.

Though the stripped back 'Need To Give This Broken Heart Away' ends proceedings in a fitting manner, it is the penultimate 'Weight Of The World' that hints most at the reggae dub sound the group tinkered with for We're Already Gone.

So for the keen overseas fan that wants to dip their toes in song pool of The Beautiful Girls then Water is essential listening.