Songs from Severn Grove

It's a dreamy, laid-back soundscape that Cardiff-based singer-songwriter Ivan Moult serves up on Songs from Severn Grove, his third studio album. It's a sound rich in 60s and 70s folk and blues vibes, with echoes of Tim Buckley, JJ Cale and, perhaps most notably, John Martyn, echoing throughout.

Opener ‘Supermoonlight’ captures that idyllic romance of a perfect summer's evening date, with a hint of jazz, just enough to suggest the frisson of excitement.

‘Right Now’ has a more acoustic feel, complete with ethereal backing vocals, and ‘Home and Dry’ mines a similarly relaxed folky vibe. ‘Heard It All Before’ is probably the closest Moult comes to a song with any suggestion of conflict, with its narrative of a broken relationship.

Throughout Songs from Severn Grove Moult's cool vocals and unflustered guitar flavour the album with an effortless grace. Masterfully polished by Charlie Francis (REM and Robyn Hitchcock), this album proves the perfect soundtrack to a chilled summer's night. That's certainly the feeling on album closer, ‘Out of Time’, a timeless little track where you can taste the midnight vibe. It's a faultless finale to what is a beautifully evocative listen.