Cardiff has once again become the hub of musical development. The arrival of acts such as Los Campesinos!, Future of the Left and now Cymbient have bolstered the more established acts like Super Furry Animals and, err, Funeral For A Friend. The 5-piece consists of individuals who've come from as far away as Trinidad to the more welcoming hill-sides of Merthyr Tydfil. This wide breadth of roots probably explains the gentle mix of sounds on Out on the Waves, their second album.The gentle infusion of folk, 60's pop and 70's psychedelia prevails throughout. The playful opener of 'Dress the Salad' brings to mind a meeting of the Super Furry Animals and Stereolab. The vocals are high pitched and harmonious with skittish drums playing over the 70's rock guitars. And this sets the tone for the rest of the album. It doesn't quite move away from this gentle, retro-sounding psuedo-pop. The vocals are never powerful and are reminiscent of The Beach Boys in their carefree abandon.'December Moon' is Gorky's Zygotic Mynci by another name. The gentle vocals over a smooth guitar, flowing in a stream of harmony, it's just missing Euros Child's Welsh tinged vocals to be a perfect copy. Unfortunately 'Funky Little One' doesn't live up to its name as it sounds like an off cut from a children's TV show and just becomes annoying. The only track that mixes it up a bit is the middle album thrash of 'Truculent' which is filled with fuzzed up and feedback drenched guitars. It positively jars against the skull, it wakes you up from the slumber the other tracks have lulled you into. Unfortunately it doesn't last though, about half way through it retreats back into its gentle, cosy and comfortable shell.The twelve tracks on offer here just don't offer anything different or new. Listening to the album over and over reveals nothing further. There's no hidden depth to it and you spend half you time wondering if you're listening to another bands (SFA, Gorky's) album. It's not offensive but, in the end, it might just be too pleasant for its own good. 58%Links Cymbient [myspace]