Painted Palms – Horizons

Painted Palms: No Longer a Cheap Party Decoration

The new album Horizons, from the Northern California band Painted Palms, is a record that reflects the nostalgic, lo-fi pop that is so prevalent in the Golden State.

The first song, “Refractor,” begins with a manipulated synth and heavy beat which then transitions to the harmonic vocal looping of Reese Donohue. The next few songs, “Contact,” “Gemini” and “Glaciers” are all versions of the song before it, but the beats and synthesizers take on a larger role as the record continues. The majority of the record continues in the way of electronica and distorted sounds, but the one song that stands out as a particularly captivating tune is “Disintegrate.”

The song sounds as if it is a marriage between the danceable quality of Passion Pit and the melodic vocals of Atlas Sound. The lyrics, “Cause you never even tried to see me,” echo and reverberate at the beginning. It then continues with a fusion of music sequencers, drum machines and vocals that will make any placid person desire to move.

The duo’s second full-length album is best described as a light and enjoyable record. It is free from unconventional beats and lyrics, and transports the listener to the cheerful image and sensation of California.

That being said, if the listener is looking for intellectual or reflective lyrics, unfortunately, one will not find them in Painted Palms. This does not mean, however, that because the duo’s lyrics lack the richness of folk songwriters or the rebelliousness of punk rock their music should be overlooked and discarded. Rather, the listener should enjoy the fun and polyphonic music that they create.

While a majority of the songs begin to sound the same and combine to make one giant song on the album, this record is no doubt worth a listen. If not for the nostalgic California sound, one should certainly consider it for the cheerful, rhythmic keyboard arrangements.