It hasn’t been long since I raved about Luminous Hands here on the Jukebox — and I stand by every word. That record was a genuine leap forward for England’s Sunstack Jones, and I said at the time I couldn’t imagine how they’d top it. Well, they haven’t tried to top it. Instead, they’ve done something arguably smarter — they’ve pulled back, stripped things down a little, and delivered a four-track EP that feels like a late afternoon postcard from a band that knows exactly who they are.
Slow Country is brief by design. Just under twenty minutes, four songs, no grand gestures. And honestly? That suits them. Not every release needs to be a statement. Sometimes you just want to sit with a band for a little while, and that’s precisely what this EP invites you to do.
The title track opens things up in classic Sunstack Jones fashion — acoustic strums, soft-focus vocals, that unmistakable warmth that’s been their calling card since day one. It’s a gentle table-setter, easing you into the EP’s mood rather than grabbing you by the collar. Think of it as the band saying “hey, come sit down for a minute.” It works.
But the real moment on this record — and I mean the moment — is Bad Luck. There’s a groove here that gets under your skin before you even realize it’s happening. The rhythm section locks into something subtle and hypnotic, and the bassline (I keep coming back to the basslines with this band — see also: Useless Saying on Luminous Hands) does an enormous amount of heavy lifting. The guitars shimmer overhead while the whole thing just rolls forward with quiet confidence. One of their finest recorded performances, full stop.
“Rainy” stretches past the six-minute mark and leans into the more expansive, atmospheric side of the band. Patient and melancholic — a slow burn that rewards the time you give it. It reminds me a bit of the more contemplative moments on a Mojave 3 record that have the same sense of space and ache. If you let it breathe, it opens into something genuinely beautiful.
The EP closes with But, Oh Well a loose, comfortable shrug of a song that wraps the whole thing up without fanfare. There’s no tidy resolution here, just acceptance. And somehow, that’s exactly right.
I’ve been listening to Sunstack Jones for a long time now, and Slow Country is a reminder that a band doesn’t always need to swing for the fences. Sometimes four songs, twenty minutes, and a warm afternoon is all you need. They’ve earned the right to be this comfortable in their own skin.
Highly recommended. Buy it. Tell your friends. Then play Bad Luck again.
You can buy the album here.
For Fans Of: Ride, The Verve, Beachwood Sparks, Mojave 3, Ocean Colour Scene
Tracks:
- Slow Country
- Bad Luck
- Rainy
- But, Oh Well