‘Masks’ is the latest offering from Disconcerting P, the somewhat ill-chosen moniker of  multi-instrumentalist and P Affection front man, Padraig McCauley. With fourEPs already under his belt, Masks is McCauley’s debut solo LP. This release features a selection of sparkling indie-pop gems packed with clever lyrics, old-school melodies and of course the requisite jangly guitars.

The album opens with Driving — a breezy surf tune recounting the thoughts of a man on a late-night cruise. Full of poetic descriptions of everything from the stars to empty shop windows; McCauley really gets to show off his songwriting chops in this track.

Another highlight is the seductive Until the Drugs Wear Off: a bedroom ballad peppered with striking lines such as, “We can glide through the darkness of your room/ Climb into the world outside just me and you.”

The album climaxes with the wonderful Sneaking Off, a euphoric power pop song with all the lushness of Camera Obscura; pumping a  rush of energy into the record.

McCauley is clearly a musician who wears his influences on his sleeve. This is most evident in Do You Really Want to Wake Up?, the wistful organ obviously paying homage to the quintessential indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The album really brings to mind other bands from the entire spectrum of indie music ranging from the chamber pop of the aforementioned Belle and Sebastian to the light funk of Republic of Loose.

If the very thought of twee brings you out in a rash, then Masks won’t be the album to change your mind. However, indie connoisseurs will certainly delight in the cheery sound and bright, poppy melodies. This is an album you want to listen to again and again for the sheer joyousness of the thing.

Masks is available to buy on Bandcamp here