Pelle Carlberg's 'The Lilac Times' is not a complex or considered album. There's nothing remarkably brave or creatively fierce about this record, nor does it sound particularly of-this-time. But that, dear readers, is its grade-A, solid-gold attraction; for 'The Lilac Times' is an effortlessly listenable album that has somehow become super-glued to my stereo. I know not one of the album's song titles, neither am i too sure precisely when one song begins and another ends. Instead the album just washes over me like a fine summer shower and it's a hugely positive - albeit relatively new - experience. I love every minutes of it.

As a member of perennially-brilliant late 90's Scandinavian band Edson, Carlberg developed a quite remarkable knack for penning the most sublime and weightless melodies. As a solo artist he's honed this faculty across the breadth of two previous albums and on his third, 'The Lilac Times', he's reached a career utopia.

For each and every one of the songs on 'The Lilac Times' are toffee-apple sweet. Frothy, summer-stung snatches of tender folk-pop that recall everyone from Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Grandaddy and right up to the likes of Belle And Sebastian (an influence emphasised by the name of the album's glorious opening track 'Pelle & Sebastian'). Lyrically it's also utterly delightful. The occasional snatches of words that register are a playground of popular culture: The Stone Roses, Ryan Air, animal funerals and even social networking behemoth Facebook. Each spin of the album reveals odd new words and phrases, each of which somehow gets ingrained in your gently-massaged sub-conscious.

'The Lilac Times' is an optimism injection that comes with no pretence or babbling fanfare. This is just simple, effortless songwriting at its unrefined best. I beg you not to be swallowed up in its genial charms. Run children, run to the record store now...

'The Lilac Times' is released on October 20th through Labrador Records

Hannah Whistles