Essex quartet Palmist want to put a spring in your step. That motivation courses through every aspect of this second EP, from the box-fresh funk grooves to choruses sweeter than a sherbet sandwich. Unfortunately, Fake Smiles never quite hits its stride, which is frustrating, as there’s definitely potential here. Without Her shimmies to a nimble guitar, and there’s no denying singer Sam Paterson’s ear for a tongue-tripping vocal hook. The problem, though, is that every element is polished and shrink-wrapped to the point that it ends up feeling lifeless. Synths gloop rather than shimmer, while the bass simply thuds rather than bounces. It means that whenever Palmist’s choruses promise to send you bananas, they fall short on energy, which is a major facepalm moment for songs with such bi...
