Floating in and out of comfort zones

Local albums offer smooth sailing and nightmares in space.

- BY GRAHAM REID

WELCOME TO THE MOOD

by Leisure

In the absence of prominent media coverage and identifiable faces, Leisure have quietly become one of our most successful musical exports for their understated, smooth and soulful pop, which sails close to subdued yacht rock.

Here, on the fifth album since they formed a decade ago, this semi-supergroup (members from Goodnight Nurse, Kids of 88, Kidz in Space and others) offer a MOR sheen with hints of disco and 1970s LA pop (Diamonds, which slips seamlessly into the low-light Missing You) and cloudy pop (Desert Moon Sky).

There are elements of soul shuffle (One in a Million), a kind of blunted Steely Dan-meets-Christopher Cross vibe, and the whole album politely lowers the pulse rate. Summer is coming and Leisure offer something polished, professional and undemanding.

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