As part of pop stalwarts the Anyones, Nick Murphy has been kicking around the traps for the best part of the last decade, plying his trade in band format. Now he’s stepped away from that, delivering his debut solo release Breaking the Light.

As with the Anyones releases, Breaking the Light is all about the songs – the likes of the multi-tracked vocals opener “Elated” reference the Beach Boys in their melodies, while the excellent “The Liar” bears a strong resemblance to Elliott Smith circa Either/Or, all darkness and minor keys.

The psychedelic touches on the likes of “Urban Boredom Song” are cleverly used, as Murphy’s falsetto rings out loud and true. The Byrds are an obvious reference point for Breaking the Light, as crystalline production adds layers to the likes of “Arrival”.

Strongly melodic throughout, Breaking the Light is an astutely assembled collection of songs, from the pop joy of “Second Son” to the darker theme of “The Liar”. Whilst it could certainly have been more varied, it’s the sort of album that makes for a highly enjoyable listen as the songs are universally strong.