"Well, that was nice." The words no lover wants to hear ...

"Well, that was nice." The words no lover wants to hear after they've used all their best moves. Or after they've slaved over a hot console and dropped a magnum opus. This, from Poles Believe, is - nice.

Formed by guitarist Mirek Gil, this is undeniably Prog. In fact Neo Prog, if they are to be believed. But in reality, "Gentle Prog" – a new substrata, a new niche, a newzzzzzzzz...sorry, dropped off there for a moment. Perhaps a bit harsh, but you'll really need to have the lights dimmed, free of stresses and strains and perhaps with a large beverage in your hand if you want to give this full measure. 'Beginners' promises much, ironically rising on a 70s sloping guitar line and rather beautiful piano, no rush, letting it all unfold...but when the title track joins it and throws in some folky moments and faux Floyd, it might raise eyebrows.

That's the only exercise you'll get though, because although 'Words' adds lovely organ washes, it's even softer, moving on casters, gentle as a punch from Simon Schama (allegedly), disappointing. Centrepiece must be the 10 minute 'Heartless Land', but it feels like one idea stretched to breaking point, a usual simple beat, glacial, keening guitars, a plaintive piano, a Gilmour aching solo, all the points covered, over and over again. This is by no means awful and at a certain time in the day, in the week, in your life, it might be incredibly apposite – well played, well produced, crisp and warm like a winter sun in fact, this is dreamy.

But the kind of dreams that a laudanum-soaked balaclava could produce, soft, trippy, gentle but with unlike a drug of choice, no craving at all. You probably won't be going back to your record dealer for another ray of this sun.

Steve Swift