H. Hawkline takes a rather relaxed stroll through varying styles such as post-rock, garage rock, psychedelia and a strange kind of fuzzy pop, on his latest record In The Pink of Condition.

The Welshman – real name Huw Evans – is signed to Heavenly Records, home to the likes of TOY and Temples. This is his first proper release on the label since last year’s Salt Gall Box Ghouls, A compilation of some of his best tracks over the years.

Produced by Cate Le Bon, the album jingles and jangles its way through a series of delicate pop songs, with off-key guitar lines and muffled vocals. ‘Everybody’s On The Line’ is reminiscent of The Kinks, with touches of psychedelic, soft rock and gentle vocals. It is followed by the album’s single ‘Moons In My Mirror’, which at first seems like an upbeat, uncomplicated song, but on closer inspection is surrounded by some more intricate elements.

A big part of the success of this album – which Evans is describing as ‘strange pop’ – is that it offers a front of simple, fluently written pop songs that can wander in and out of listeners ears with pleasurable ease; whilst behind the scenes sheltering a more complete collage of colourful nuances. With each listen you hear more layers, and that is where the fun is.

‘Ringfinger’ raises the tempo a little; a thrumming, heavily strummed song with a gloriously catchy chorus. It is a stand-out on the album, and feels like a song that must have been written decades ago, but is somehow brand new.

The album could be a vague relative of one of Mac DeMarco’s, in the sense that it has the same off-kilter pop sound. Sometimes the guitar tone can drag a little on some of the songs, feeling a little samey, but it is also the element that ties it all together.

The Pink of Condition in the end then, is a light, undramatic album that at times dissolves a little in the background, but on the whole stands up as a very enjoyable record. It is a musical daydream, an escape from reality in the midst of cold winter.