To call Babelsberg a 'solo album' would be a misnomer. While it was written and performed by Gruff Rhys, the Super Furry Animals frontman roped in long-time musical cohorts, drummer Kliph Scurlock (formerly of The Flaming Lips), as well as multi-instrumentalists Stephen Black and Osian Gwynedd.

The collaboration doesn't end there. Rhys sat on these 10 songs for 18 months, waiting for Swansea-based composer Stephen McNeff to pen orchestral scores for each track, which were then played by the 72 members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

The result is a gorgeous, sumptuous affair that comes across like Richard Hawley fronting the Count Basie Orchestra, or Jarvis Cocker jamming with Cole Porter.