Born With A Sad Gene

Where they got the name from I don't know, but Emily Ryder are a bouncy, chirpy four-piece from up North armed with acoustic guitars, hooks aplenty and a nice line in tunesmithery to boot.

They mix electric and acoustic parts quite well but I must confess I prefer the out and out unplugged tracks, like the opening 'Eucalyptus Tree', which comes on like Crowded House with harsher accents, or the simple guitar and vocals of 'Lunch'. The title track is ultra-cool, as hip as a Tarantino soundtrack, while 'Unsung Unlovable' has a nice line in harmonies and a bright melody, which belies the more melancholy subject matter: "I suppose I wrote 16 songs for you/They remain unsung, unlovable". Thankfully then, they don't wallow in their self pity.

'Part Of What Made Me' is the standout, as Emily Ryder display their ability to slow things down with equal aplomb, and surely this is a hit single waiting to happen. This is followed, though, with the searing guitar of the adrenaline-fuelled 'Female Shirt', which could be from a completely different band.

The self-production by times is a bit muted, when a more open, expansive style would have let the songs breathe a bit more. But Emily Ryder have created a debut album of strong, unpretentious songs, simply performed and well executed.