If you’re a fan of The Bees, you’ll be all too aware that it’s been eight long years since the Isle of Wight psych-poppers’ last album – too long in anyone’s book, particularly for a band that never announced a hiatus of any kind.

Salvation of-sorts comes in the form of this record, a new project formed by Bees' members and multi-instrumentalists Aaron Fletcher and Tim Parkin. Although frontman Paul Butler is not involved, 77:78 loses none of the quirky, sunshine-imbued quality of their 9 to 5.

If I'm Anything shimmers and glistens with a laidback, dreamy crackle; Love Said (Let's Go) is an enjoyably meandering strut through a summer's day; the Bacharach-esque horns on the more considered Papers are a joy, while the zippy Compass Pass sounds like The Divine Comedy at their most whimsical.

The album though seems to run out of both steam and ideas as it nears its conclusion, but for those who miss both The Bees and bands such as Super Furry Animals, there is real joy to be heard on Chilli and Copper Nail – tunes that are as good a soundtrack to the summer as you're likely to hear. facebook.com/7778music