Chapel

If you’re thinking Andy Aquarius can’t be his real name, you’d be right. Andy Ozbolt is a singer and multi-instrumentalist with German and Croatian roots, currently based in Berlin. His previous musical output has been accessible, dreamy pop, à la Tame Impala. But his new album Chapel dispenses with synths and trippy drum patterns and features little more than his self-built Celtic harp and vocals.

The opening title-track sets the tone with three minutes of solo harp before Aquarius’ voice enters, soon joined by Enya-like backing vocals provided by Maja Presnell. Aquarius’s singing style reminds me of fellow German multi-instrumentalist Nils Kercher, and the overall effect is similar to Kercher’s earlier albums – gentle and meditative. Although there are only six tracks, most are over six minutes, allowing plenty of time for the listener to get lost in the unhurried flow of the music. At times, it could almost be the kind of new age music used as an accompaniment to yoga, but there is enough melodic and rhythmic interest to make Chapel more than mere background listening.