The Sumos are a band from Manchester, UK and this is I think their first EP, following their 2023 album Enemies.

The EP opens with "Aram", which provides an intriguing introduction to the band. It starts at a fairly slow pace, carrying a sense that it is building toward something bigger. There is definitely a feeling of anticipation throughout the track, but rather than fully resolving or exploding into a climax, it ends quite abruptly. It works well as an opener and sets a mood effectively, but it also feels like it could have been developed into something more expansive.

"Ice Breaker" ups the tempo and brings a brighter, more immediate energy. It has a distinct 90s feel, reminiscent of The Rembrandts for anyone old enough to remember the band behind the Friends theme. The track is infectious and upbeat, with a strong sense of momentum that makes it easy to get drawn in. However, like the opener, it also feels as though it wraps up a little too quickly, just as it is hitting its stride.

That sense of energy continues into "Honesty", which feels like one of the more fully realised tracks on the EP. It is more consistently energetic and serves as a strong showcase for the band’s sound, with some particularly nice guitar work throughout. At nearly three minutes, it feels more complete and better structured than the previous tracks, giving it a more satisfying arc. Instead of leaving you wishing it had gone further, it feels like it lands in exactly the right place as it ends.

Again, the 90s influence is prominent in "Hunting Tracks", with perhaps even a hint of the 80s surfacing underneath, though delivered in a much brighter, more modern way. The track feels like it gently ambles forward rather than making a strong statement. There is a relaxed quality to it that works well in places, but the brevity once again stands out. It is a good song in its own right, yet it leaves the impression that there was more potential to explore, both musically and structurally, if it had been given more space to develop.

With the title track, "Luck", you would naturally expect this to serve as the centrepiece of the EP, the moment where everything comes together. It is indeed the longest track on the release, though still only just over three minutes. Despite its relatively short runtime, it feels like the most complete and fully realised track here, and arguably the strongest overall. There is a clearer sense of structure and intention, and it feels more confident in how it carries itself from start to finish.

The EP closes with "If Would", an upbeat track with bright guitar work and a lighter tonal vocal delivery. It helps to balance out the overall feel of the record rather than pushing it firmly into upbeat pop territory. Instead, it sits somewhere between optimism and restraint, giving the EP a closing note that feels open and reflective rather than overly conclusive.

This is one of those EPs that feels frustrating in its promise. There is a clear sense of potential running through it, but also a tendency to settle for “good enough” rather than pushing ideas further. The result is a six-track EP that runs just under 14 minutes, which ultimately feels like it only scratches the surface of what the band could deliver.

What is here is engaging and enjoyable, but the brevity leaves you feeling slightly short-changed, as though the ideas presented could have been explored in more depth or allowed more space to breathe. Hopefully, future releases will lean more confidently into that potential and expand on what is already an encouraging foundation.