There’s a particular kind of ambition in releasing a song called ‘Mrs Sunshine’ in January, when the days are short, the sky is grey, and the idea of warmth feels like a distant memory. But Brighton four-piece Hutch pulled it off entirely, using it to set the scene for a full EP that feels like the hazy joys of a dreamy summer packaged into five addictive tracks.

The five-song collection, now released for your listening pleasure, draws inspiration from Revolver-era John Lennon and Pet Sounds-era Brian Wilson, and those reference points are worn openly and without embarrassment. What makes it work is that Hutch aren’t imitating those records; they’re continuing the thread, finding what that mid-60s psychedelic pop spirit sounds like when a young Brighton band get hold of it in 2026.

The title track sets the tone immediately. Beach Boys-layered backing vocals, punchy production and an arrangement that manages to feel simultaneously tight and packed yet loose and fluid enough to feel genuinely dreamlike. The lyrics imagine the sun as a metaphorical character: “Say hello to Mrs Sunshine, I haven’t seen her for some time / you invite her in for dinner, hoping she will share her light“, and the song wraps around the image with real tenderness.

‘Hillside Wool’ and ‘Thinking The Same’ keep the warmth alive, the latter particularly gorgeous, weaving arpeggios and guitar lines made for a slow afternoon with a cup of tea, watching clouds drift by. These are songs that are snug and cosy, and just when you think you might be getting too comfortable, they shift, change and loosen up.

‘Pepper Kettle’ is where Hutch show their teeth. The song lulls you into a blissful lullaby in its first half before a droning, swirling psychedelic bridge descends. The contrast is startling and completely deliberate, and it’s the moment that confirms Hutch have real craft rather than just charm.

‘Taking Your Time’, a personal favourite, closes the EP perfectly, its sprawling instrumental outro giving the band one last chance to really let loose before crashing back in with a final massive, cacophonic, cathartic chorus. It’s a memorable way to leave you… the kind of ending that makes you want to go back to the beginning.

‘Mrs Sunshine’ is an incredibly warm, welcoming and wonderfully cohesive debut EP from a band who are already very good at what they do. One of the most joyful listens of the year so far.