Jangle-pop returns in the form of Dublin band Ginnels – fronted by Mark Chester – after eight years in hibernation under the moniker. Last producing music as Ginnels in 2014, ‘The Picturesque’ is their new offering. The album is both long-awaited and long in the works for Chester, who in the time since has settled into family life — never, however, forgetting his creative impetus.

‘The Body Was Gone’ perfectly positions itself as the opener to this new body of work, acting as an exposition to the tracks that follow. ‘Johnny Thunders Said’ chases, slowing down the pace and embodying a nostalgia-tinged tone, swirling guitar reminiscent of long drives in the hazy Irish countryside of summers long gone. “Nostalgia as a feeling is new to me”, ring Chester’s words.

‘Narrator’ follows suit, upping the tempo with electric guitar and snappy percussion leading the way. ‘Promise to Never’ and ‘It’s Never Enough’ act as upbeat preludes to the title track, ‘The Picturesque’ – an instrumental interlude which sits comfortably at the halfway point – slowing things down, pensive and reflective through its considered mellow guitar trills.

‘To Love, To Love’ quickens the pace. “There’s nothing so simple as wanting to love, to love” cries the chorus. The slow and steady ‘Nothing Doing’ follows a rock-inspired departure of ‘Men of a Kind’.

Latest single ‘Lands Farway’ brings Chester back to his misspent youth. “On this song I was trying to channel The Chills – to the point that the phone demo was called ‘Chills Bass Riff’, while also realising the dream of having a cod-classical guitar solo on a track. It’s set in the limestone quarry in Cumbria where I spent much of my teenage years.”

‘About a Year Ago’ takes the penultimate track of The Picturesque, tying together the theme of nostalgia through its stripped-back and vibrantly indie-pop-inspired guitar strums, and its lyrics; “Nostalgia reigns supreme with me.”

The closing track, ‘Rushes’ lays bare Chester’s vulnerabilities, concluding the album beautifully. Nostalgia drips through each section to create a sound that is both new and old — reflective and progressive. Ginnels’ return to the scene is a prosperous one.