Fridae

Ms Scary confesses that when she hears Ms K T Tunstall describing her own songs as "kitchen table songs," she half expects Eye To The Telescope to be about as exciting as eavesdropping on bored conversations amongst out-of-shape housewives.

Thankfully, the debut album of the part Chinese, part Scottish singer-songwriter offers a brand of rather refreshing melancholic guitar-pop-rock which showcases a strong feminine personality and a voice at parts Dido at parts Rikki Lee Jones.

Produced by the legendary Steve Obsorne (U2, New Order and Happy Mondays), Eye To The Telescope offers 12 tracks - all written by the talented Ms Tunstall - comprising pop tunes ("Other Side Of The World"), rock tunes ("Another Place To Fall"), languid ballads ("Silent Sea") and oddities such as the barnyard dance inspired "Black Horses And The Cherry Tree."

Reflecting the aptly titled album, the guitar-strumming gal places the minutiae of relationships under a telescope and sings about falling in and out of love ("Universe & U" and "Through The Dark"), emotional insecurities ("Stoppin' The Love" and "Miniature Disasters") and getting over relationships ("Heal Over").

More interestingly, the Edinburgh born lass appears on the cover wearing rainbow-hued suspenders (gaydar alert!) and writes lyrics with lesbian leanings such as "Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower/ A big strong tower" ("Suddenly I See") and "Come over here lady/ Let me wipe your tears away/ Come a little nearer baby/ Coz you'll heal over" ("Heal Over").

A respectable debut but as dear Alice would say: "Curiouser and curiouser!"

Ms Scary's Selected Spins: "Other Side Of The World," "Another Place To Fall," "Black Horse And The Cherry Tree," "Silent Sea," "Universe & U" and "Suddenly I See."