According to the ever-reliable and trustworthy source Wikipedia, “Hypnagogia” is the psychological term for the dreamy state between consciousness and sleep. For the untroubled sleeper, this is a quasi-blissful state that feels almost like magic after a stressful day. It is certainly an appropriate title for Dublin songster Donal de Blacam’s début – a record defined by sweet lullaby harmonies and hazy ambient sound effects.

The album opens with soothing mandolin plucking gently seguing into the bright and breezy Dream of Coventina. Admittedly, this song does have a touch of the Darby O’Gills about it, but it’s hard not to be swept up into this infectiously fun foot-stomper. Another highlight is the stripped-back Golden Orioles; a shimmering mish-mash of Nick Drake’s Northern Skies and Badly Drawn Boy.

The quality of the record suffers when De Blacam makes the transfer to a heavier sound. The indecipherable soliloquy and spiralling electric guitar solo of KissProof takes the album into risibly over-the-top Spinal Tap territory. The forgettable lead single, Hypnagogia, is an ostentatious rock ballad in the same vein as U2 which serves as a poor representation of an otherwise laudable record.

Donal De Blacam’s vocals often seem to have a tenuous grasp on the melody and at times do not have the strength to carry his songs. Vocally speaking, he is at his best when he sticks to a simple acoustic feel. At times, De Blacam is let down by his somewhat vague and pretentious lyrics, such is the case in Chase Aurora: “Heaven laments in the sky, / Where cold reflections still my mind/ And gaze upon my knowing/ I sense falling down where we lie.”

However, ‘Hypnagogia’ highlights De Blacam’s impressive talent for intelligent melodies full of interesting and unexpected turns. His lush arrangements envelop the listener in an expansive landscape that takes in many genres from the hushed acoustic folk of Wake Up Julie to the Springsteen-like stadium anthem sound of If I Knew Out of the Blue. All in all, this is an intriguing début that hints at a promising future.