Psyche-pop, Welsh, twee… That’s probably about as close as you’ll get at describing Gruff Rhys’ new album, Candylion. With songs like Skylon! - a 13-minute epic about the ‘master of the skies’ and Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru which, as far as I’m aware, means something along the lines of “can I have a Coke please?” this album doesn’t make sense. But it’s rather nice.

Yes, saying music is ‘nice’ is like describing your fat cousin as ‘healthy’. It lacks conviction, and everyone knows it. But this album is nice. It’s pleasant, malleable and any other middle-of-the-road superlatives you may want to throw in.
It does come across as a little bland upon first listen. Peeping and squeaking occasionally it inspires nothing more than, “Oh, this is agreeable”. A cheap frill from up-tempo Cycle Of Violence, is followed by a slow trot through the remaining 30 minutes – half of which taken up by Skylon! Is there really that much to say about a “single stage, turbojet-based, air breathing orbital space plane”? (See Skylon entry in Wikipedia)

But play the album again and suddenly it shakes off the flaccid hue of your first encounter. There’s a warmth and life-affirming quality to the album that accompanies moody winter days with a strange irony. Album namesake Candylion is everything pop should be; non-threatening and easy to digest. It flits from mild excitement to a casual gloom. Never straying too far or making you think too hard. And for that, the album’s a winner.

Don’t expect too much from Gruff and he’ll make you happy. Hurray.