Album Review: The Ruby Suns - Christopher

Christopher is the work of New Zealander Ryan McPhun (under the moniker of The Ruby Suns), who has in the past worked with fellow countryman Lawrence Arabia and drummed with Aussies Architecture In Helsinki. Comparisons to these acts (especially the latter) don't really do him any favours, however, because a big problem with this album is that it's largely lacking much of the urgency and excitement that AIH seem to capture so effortlessly.

Given time to open up, tracks like Futon Fortress and Desert Of Pop do reveal subtle hooks, clever lyrics and vocal melodies, but the album doesn't give you much reason to hold out long enough to find them. The sequencing of the record could have been better thought out. Starlight, one of the few tracks that grabs you straight away – with its slow-burning synth and slightly Hot Chip-reminiscent chorus – is stuck down in no-man's land at track eight, after we wade through comparatively dull middle tracks (particularly the soporific Rush), which is where you really want some spark to keep the listener interested. McPhun's voice also doesn't quite have the heft or power to pull off the heartbroken-but-still-fighting persona that he's trying to communicate through lyrics like Kingfisher Call Me's chorus of, “Dry your eyes/Here's what to do/Don't listen to anyone except for you”, so mostly they just come off a bit lame.

If Christopher were a person, he'd be someone you'd always see out on the town, drunk and complaining about a new unrequited love. He's nice and kinda fun, but too clingy and vapid to wanna hang out with for very long.