On In his seventh album, Canadian singer/songwriter Hayden brings to his fans a compilation of sweet and smooth songs with lingering melodies and charming tunes. Although Hayden is mostly known for his acoustic guitar sound, In Field and Towns shows an impressive array of instruments, with many of them played by Hayden himself, giving depth to the acoustic/folk rock genre that too often lacks a full-bodied and virtuosic sound.

Most of the album’s tracks maintain a soft and steady feeling—giving listeners a feeling of stability and comfort. In “More Than Alive,” Hayden, who plays six instruments for the track along with providing the vocals, continues this gentle theme, while at the same time giving way to crescendos of more powerful instrumentation. Perhaps the most surprising song on the release, though, is “The Hardest Part” with just the singer’s lyrics and his piano. While offering quiet, raspy vocals, Hayden performs a calming piano piece reminiscent of Romantic-era nocturnes, betraying the low-spirited words accompanying the music. He lullabies: “She was flying circle above your room at night, while you slept in the bed below, thinking things were alright.” In Field, essentially, is “The Hardest Part” writ large: the artist’s training and gift hide behind the music’s easygoing melodies and soft harmonies, but if you listen closely, you’ll hear the talent and complexities that make up the album.

-Jonathan Mason