A spin-off from Allah-Las, PAINT features that band's Pedrum Siadatian leading a charge (or sometimes an amble) through neo-psychedelic tunes, and compositions that are skewed pop like those of his home band. Spiritual Vegas, out now via Mexican Summer, is overall intriguing and engaging, even as it feels a bit precious in spots.
Like the music of Allahs-Las, the material from PAINT is similarly indulgent, with Pedrum here exploring his versions of late Sixties stuff. While Allah-Las at least makes this kind of thing feel more robust and energetic, PAINT's tunes sometimes get lost in the mix of influences. However, Siadatian tries admirably to make this stuff feel distinctive, especially on the Ayers-like "Strange World", or the percolating "Flying Fox", one of the brighter bits of chamber pop here. Still, for all that works, Pedrum seems more interested at times in creating a mood, or a simulacrum of earlier, riskier efforts.
With help from Jackson Macintosh of Sheer Agony on bass and guitar, Nick Murray of White Fence and Oh Sees on drums, and Spencer Dunham and Matt Correia from Allah-Las on bass and percussion, respectively, Pedrum Siadatian mostly avoids overstaying his welcome in the world of he's conjured up here. If "Meet Me (in St. Lucia)" sounds exactly like Ultimate Painting, and "Why Not, Tick Tock" recalls Syd Barrett, a listener is at least rewarded with some fairly compelling stuff. I suppose I sound jaded because so much of this, to me at least, seems to have been done before (and better) by Temple Songs and The Clientele. It doesn't help that Pedrum has invested more time in creating a mood than coming up with some memorable hooks. Still, overall, Spiritual Vegas will be liked by anyone who has liked things by Allah-Las in the past. In that sense, it's recommended.
Spiritual Vegas by PAINT is out now via Mexican Summer.
More on PAINT via the official Facebook page.
[Photo: Mexican Summer]