Fuzzy Robes: Midday Prayers (Winegum Records/digital outlets)

As with Banksy, the Residents and Daft Punk, let's allow a cloud of enigma and mystique to remain settled over the Ōtautahi Christchurch band Fuzzy Robes whose previous album Night Prayers in 2021 was a elevating mix of liturgical and gently psychedelic music.

Although it's probably as easy to identify their members as the aforementioned – there are photos for a start -- there's something appropriate about the not-knowing when taken in conjunction with their music which has a gentle, lightly trippy quality.

And religious overtones.

A bit like Flaming Lips at their most subdued.

As the title of this new album suggests, Midday Prayers is along similar lines to its predecessor which brought pop and a touch of prog-rock seriousness to Biblical passages, prayers and hymns.

It draws from the New Zealand Prayer Book/He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa for its lyrical and spiritual inspiration.

Perhaps because it is midday, there's a more alert and upbeat ethos here which draws them closer to the Beach Boys and baroque pop in instrumentation and arrangements.

Their adaptation of the injunctions and promises of Psalm 119 is a gorgeous piece of weightless dream pop and the very lovely sentiments of Lead Me from Death to Life (based on an adaptation of passages in the Upanishads and adopted as universal prayer for peace) comes as a reading over a gently drifting backdrop.

Elsewhere are Collect for Midday (almost a dialed-down soul-funk groove), the familiar Kyrie Eleison and Lord's Prayer, and the album closes with a 90 second Blessing.

Whatever you make of this, you'd have to agree that in a world of rage, aggression, noise and division, the idea of giving thanks, seeking spiritual guidance and – if nothing else – listening to quiet music, isn't the worst idea anyone has had recently.

Give it a listen, it's a welcome break from the news cycle.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here