THE NEW (EP)

The New is an EP featuring three tracks and a total running time of just under 18 minutes. It was released in the interim period between the band's two latest full-length releases, 2005's Faithful Faithless and 2010's The Beachcomber. The lead off track here, Kingston Corner Blues, later re-appeared on the latter album. This charming song about unrequited love is, despite the its title, not a Blues rocker, but rather a Pop rocker. This song could easily have earned Jump commercial success had it only reached the right ears.

The primary interest in this EP lies however in the other two songs, especially in strong When You Fall on which John Dexter Jones sings in an uncharacteristically deep voice reminiscent of David Bowie. The track is not unlike a Bowie number in other ways as well (reminding me particularly of the style of the latter's Heathen album). Insofar as there is any Prog to be found on this EP, it is to be found in this track. This song is up to par with the band's album material and would have fitted nicely on the superb The Beachcomber.

Staring At The Rain is again a tasteful Pop Rock number. It is a pleasant listen, but fails to impress. This number too would not be out of place on some of the band's full-length albums (Home Songs would, for example, have been a good home for the track), but it is of average quality in Jump terms.

Given that one of the three tracks here has now also been included on a full-length album and that only one of the other two tracks really matches the high quality of the band's better album material, this EP is recommended primarily for fans of this very good and sadly overlooked band.