Dovecote - Dovecote: dig these dusted down tunes by archaeologist Niall Colfer

Seven years after debuting his solo project Dovecote, Niall Colfer (former vocalist and guitarist with Wexford indie band Salthouse) returns with its carefully shaped follow-up.

It’s no coincidence that Colfer is an archaeologist by trade; these songs sound like they’ve been gently eased out of their resting places, dusted down and buffed before being presented to the world.

There's a rumble of post-Britpop Badly Drawn Boy-style folk-pop on For the Best and Wheres and Whys, while the proliferation of winsome vocal murmurings straddle the right side of irritation.

An infusion of 1960s organ-led soul on the slouchy Reflections and the gurgling Easy Mind breaks up the tone, and the noodling on Water recalls 1970s-era Neil Young.

A laid-back album that is delicate and robust in all the right places.

[ dovecotemusic.com ]