Reviewed by Dustin Helgeson

‘Summer Songs’ is a simple acoustic folk EP. The opening track “Dark Dream” took me through a vivid story full of colour and flavour. It was a deceivingly dark track, as the rest of the EP would prove to be both delightful and funny. The hilariously titled “The Day The Pope Became A Catholic” pokes a bit of fun at the historically tight fisted Vatican whilst interweaving biblical stories of conspiracy, treachery and seeming contradictions. Ryder seems to be full of clever and daring lyrics that I love. “Riches”, an older Ryder song, keeps it fresh with some added acoustic guitar and deep reverb. The hilarity continues on “Kevin’s Got A Turbo”: “Now he knows the way it feels to burn the rubber off his wheels/Passing by the girls all squeal ‘Kevin’s got a turbo now!’” The last track on ‘Summer Songs’ declares: “Cause I’m still hungry, still thirsty too/Like Bono says: I still haven’t found what I’m looking for/And I wonder… have you?” Nope, no I haven’t, Ryder. I want more! These songs deserve to be heard. Pete Ryder is a poet musician.

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