Hailing from the Edinburgh music scene, where they are garnering a strong reputation since forming in 2005, Ardent John have just released this seven-track mini-album for our delectation.

Opening with a lovely, spacey, slow-building instrumental, they push into a more delicate set of songs, showing more of the nineties indie influence. As the album progresses, it encompasses hints of The Music, with a willingness to go for the big, psychedelic-tinged growers, as well as tighter, bouncy numbers that play lightly on folk and country influences in a manner similar to the earlier, magpie-era Coral.

As a whole, the EP’s only real letdown could be the lyrics. The vocals themselves are good, by turns wistful and pugnacious, but the actual lines are weak on occasions, falling back on obvious or awkward rhymes – “life can’t get any better than this/From above we’ve both been kissed” – is an example. Other than that, this is an impressive debut.

Richard Davie