The abstraction of the packaging is no superficial distraction, mind you - Maybury's experiments with form are applied with as much care to the core of the music as they are to its container. It's all densely-textured hedmusik for sure - this is not an album for fervent Oasis fans - but how does it fare against the other (gulp) post-rockers on home turf?

In common with many of its more obvious reference points (Tortoise, Rothko, Third Eye Foundation, even the bould Jim O'Rourke in one of his less melodic guises), Hardsleeper anchors most of its more difficult wow and flutter to a solid, cyclical set of rhythms. When it's at its best, as on '88' or the deliciously subdued 'Trash', this approach is extremely effecive, by turns hypnotic and desperately unsettling. Maybury occasionally veers too close to wilful abstraction for its own sake - 'Other Planet' and 'Silver Cars' in particular coming off like nihilist doodles - interesting certainly, but rarely engaging.

A fine headfuck if that's what you're angling for, Hardsleeper's brand of horizontal academia will reward close listening - just make sure you bring a good book.