I have to admit Jack's Mannequin isn't a band I'm familiar with. I received an email recently, glanced upon it, clicked on the link for the EP, started listening and was taken in immediately. I then actually went back and read the email and realised that this EP is in fact a reworking of some tracks that appeared on the bands debut album, 20 years ago, taking the original songs and giving them a brush stroke of strings.

And indeed, "Holiday from Real" opens with a swirl of violin, punctuated by an abruptly bowed phrase that almost mimics a pizzicato effect. A hint of flute follows before the track blossoms into a rich, vibrant soundscape, carried by infectious pop lyrics. It’s the kind of playful yet sophisticated blend that might even make Mozart smile. I was tempted to revisit all of the original tracks these versions are based on, but I held back, choosing instead to enjoy a brief flirtation with this rendition. I think they’ve done the original proud, transforming an energetic pop song into something fresh and re-imagined rather than merely performing a weak pastiche.

The next track, "Bruised" carries a more emotional wash, steeped in gentle melancholia. It seems to tell the story of a holiday romance fading, with the distance of a plane pulling hearts apart mile by mile. Around the 90-second mark there’s a brief but beautiful violin solo, and while I found myself yearning for the warmth of a cello, I wasn’t left disappointed, the vocals step in to provide all the emotional weight the moment demands.

The melancholy deepens with "Dark Blue" and I’m not sure if the original carried quite the same heavy coat of despair. The lyrics may be unchanged, but here the strings cast a strikingly dark tinge, especially in conjunction with the words. I imagine the original leaned more toward pop sensibilities, but that was only a fleeting thought, I was too absorbed in the sorrow, relishing the experience. Just past the halfway mark, there’s a wonderful break that allows the song to pause, reflect, and breathe before the relentless surge resumes for a final attack.

I was hoping for some respite, and indeed when "I’m Ready" begins we’re greeted with a lighter, less sombre sound, but the lyrics soon suggest otherwise. I can’t quite pin down the exact story; it feels like a breakup song, but the clues are scattered, more breadcrumb trails than clear statements. That mystery doesn’t detract from the track, though. About two-thirds of the way through, there’s a striking switch as the verses turn spoken, carried by a piano hammering out a succession of notes, before it shifts back again for the final lead-out.

The EP closes with "The Mixed Tape" a softer track that, for a moment, had me thinking of the Beatles’ "Eleanor Rigby”. Soon a thumping bass drum cuts through, followed by swirling, Beatlesque strings that become the track’s driving force. It’s hard not to suspect a deep admiration for the Fab Four behind these choices. Still, make no mistake, this song firmly belongs alongside the others on the EP, and it provides a fitting tonal conclusion to the collection.

It’s not often that a release leaves me with so many conflicting emotions. I’m frustrated that I didn’t discover this band sooner. I’m anxious that, given the long pause between records, this might be their last. Yet above all, I’m grateful, happy to have found another fantastic artist, and thankful, as always, for amazing music.

If you like this EP, definitely check out the original "Everything In Transit" album. If the strings aren’t your thing, definitely check out the original "Everything In Transit" album. And if you haven’t heard either, well… just check out both.