Sometimes it's even better the second time around. California's The Morning Benders are all set to go with the release of their second album Big Echo.

It will wow you, this collection of magical pop tunes with their laid-back strums, infectious swagger and heavenly harmonies.

But this isn't the first time that The Morning Benders have turned up on the New Music radar. Back in 2008, they released the Talking Through Tin Cansdebut, another album where smart, sunny melodies captivated everyone who heard them.

For the new album, the band worked with Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles chap Chris Taylor on the production and you can see his fingerprints all over their perfect sounds and orchestral pomp.

According to Morning Benders songwriter Chris Chu, it was an instinctive hook-up. “We sent Chris the basics of our record, which we started in San Francisco before we knew he was going to be involved. He did some stuff with it, worked his vibes, sent it back and it was exactly what we were looking for. It was a gut collaboration and it was great.”

It’s a long way from where Chu began. Back in 2006, he could be found writing and recording at home on his own with a laptop. After a solo EP under the Morning Benders moniker, Chu joined forces with some classmates in Berkeley and phase two began.

Aside from a handful of EPs and that Tin Cansdebut, you should also check out The Bedroom Coversfree-to-download album with the band putting their touch to songs by Talking Heads, The Cardigans, The Smiths, Roy Orbison, Paul Simon and others. For the rest of this year, though, it's going to be all about Big Echo.

myspace.com/ themorningbenders