Reese Donohue and Chris Prudhomme make up the psych-pop duo Painted Palms, who are known for their ’60s-inspired retrospective sound, in the same psychedelic vein as Tame Impala or Kishi Bashi.
Although their self-released six-song Nothing Lasts Long EP doesn’t attempt anything radically new, it is engaging from the catchy first track, “Hypnotic.” Starting off slow, Donohue teases, “If you’ve got a thing to say, say it now” before layers fill in the empty space and contort the song into a full-bodied jam.
The record is softly textured with falsetto harmonies mixed with breezy synth lines and pattering drums. The two cousins are talented musicians, but certainly not expressive lyricists, as enforced by the wordy redundancy of “Over Me,” a meditation on the transient nature of existence, and “Upper Floors,” a woozy depiction of losing control of your mind.
The EP closes with its unmistakable climax, “Anna,” a dreamy song that captures a distinct feeling of bliss akin to spending a bright day outdoors on psychedelics with someone you love.
Painted Palms don’t present any real audacity that would make for a great album, but otherwise compensate their lack of attitude with plenty of musical aptitude.