London based alt-rockers Palmist hit the ground running with their debut EP, ‘The Walls Between You & I’. Having Griffin Dickinson of SHVPES feature on lead single ‘Wildfire’ was a stroke of genius, certainly getting them noticed – and with that comes a certain amount of pressure for sophomore release ‘Fake Smiles’ to be at a similar level.
The EP opens to a delicate synth rhythm before kicking up a notch with ‘Life for Me’. Full of energy and showcasing the band’s style, it’s a great track to introduce new listeners to the band. The song is dominated by heavy drum beats, yet Sam Patterson’s vocals cut through cleanly, creating a chorus that is both catchy and has a stadium sing-along feel to it.
Writing a memorable chorus is something that seems second nature to Palmist, with the following track ‘Without Her’ being another great example. Another earworm, the vocal harmonies give the song a more expansive sound, tiptoeing the balance between minimalist and excessive.
Finding their sound somewhere among Don Broco, The 1975, and All Time Low, Palmist have a familiarity that sits well within that genre, but have still managed to develop and stamp their image over it and ‘NVRB’ shows that, despite being in a genre where things can sound similar, their technical ability sets them apart. More up tempo than the previous two tracks, the frantic nature of the guitars and assisting vocals from bassist Jack Hudson means the track is somehow more ‘poppy’ than the others, utilising soaring, clean vocals and a quiet/loud/quiet effect that builds throughout the song. It’s here that Palmist prove they know what will get crowds jumping and singing along.
‘Freefall’ opens with a synthy, ethereal intro that evokes a space-like feel. Whilst the guitars are raw throughout the chorus, the gentle synth and bass lines working together bring a warm feel to the verses. A little slower than the other tracks, it’s still full of slick riffs and massive drums, with a heavier breakdown that gives this song a dynamic change of direction with wailing guitars. Closing with the elongated wail of synths, leads you almost directly into the final track, ‘Out of Touch’.
Led by a driving bassline that takes control and dictates the drums, the guitars take more of a backseat. Feature another full chorus, and Patterson and Hudson’s complimenting vocals, the song starts slow and picks up tempo before returning to the wandering bass-led verse, it’s a song that captures the bands ability to write energetic, intricate and, more importantly, catchy as hell songs.
While most bands stick to what they know, Palmist show diversity, and while belonging to an Alt-rock genre that’s flooded with similar acts, they certainly have a pop-rock edge to them that they lean into, a fact that will only open themselves up to a wider audience. The downside is that of the five tracks included on the EP, only one, ‘Out Of Touch’ hasn’t already been released as a single. While this isn’t uncommon at all, it does have the potential to kill the hype of an EP. That being said, as a collection of singles, it really is great, with each one working together to pull together a coherent EP that does have a singular voice.
Overall, ‘Fake Smiles’ is a solid EP and a great follow up to ‘The Walls between You & I’, showing a more expansive and deliberate sound. While they’re still finding their feet in a competitive genre, there’s enough for them to sound unique and capture part of the market – Palmist are definitely one to keep an eye on going forward.
SI WATTEN