The Painters EP is a companion release to the band’s 10th studio album Painting With. The EP contains 3 new original tracks recorded during the Painting With era, and a studio recording of “Jimmy Mack,” (made famous by Martha & The Vandellas) performed during their live sets from this era.
The hyperactive E-numbers bounce of the synths in “Goalkeeper” is emulated by their vocal interplay – but of course, they try and squeeze in far too many words – while the Avalanches-like swirl of loops and drones and beats in “Peacemaker” and the outreach raga-rock of “Kinda Bonkers” (“Don’t you feel me feel your shine?/Unity of all kind”) is as dizzying as ever. But crucially, it’s perfectly bearable in such small doses. There’s a warm echo of De La Soul in some of their vocal interplay…
…– though the alternating-syllable structure of “Peacemaker” rather sabotages its swaying, willowy grace – but the closing cover of “Jimmy Mack” is a delightful sundae of quacking synths, skittish beats, tootling flutes and alarm bells that’s worth the price of admission alone.