A lo-fi psych-folk supergroup of sorts, The Franciscan Hobbies includes members of Thuja and the Muons and a few more musicians for good measure. The collective makes contemplative, inward-looking music, filled with plucked acoustic strings, gentle noise and more drones than you can shake a cello bow at.

On such tracks as "Wasp Embodiment" and "The Animal Performers", The Franciscan Hobbies create slowly evolving, almost murmuringly minimal repeated phrases, which vary just enough to keep the listener engaged and the material unpredictable. You'll also notice a more-than-casual nod to Eastern indigenous musical styles. This is particularly evident on the meditative "Plough Drawn by Toads", with its sitar-like pedal tones and occasional soft bells.

Masks and Meanings doesn't tend toward the confrontational, a route followed by a lot of post-psychedelia (lulling you into a subdued state and then sonically whacking you upside the head). Instead, it occupies a limited range of expression and focuses on creating an affecting sound world within those artistic confines. Still, it is refreshing to hear material that is both gentle and decidedly psychedelic -- this definitely won't harsh your mellow!