UK duo Ultimate Painting is quickly becoming one of those side projects that eclipses the performers’ main gigs. James Hoare (Veronica Falls) and Jack Cooper (Mazes) released their excellent self-titled debut last year, and they’re back already this summer with LP2. Based on lead single “Break The Chain,” Green Lanes will see the Velvets-via-Pavement swagger of early tracks like “Ten Street” refined into something smooth and gleaming without compromising its unkempt essence. There are traces of Big Star and ’70s AM gold in the mix, particularly in the subtly punchy piano chords and gently gliding vocals (consider “It’s alright to break the chain” the easygoing counterpoint to Fleetwood Mac). But the noodly arpeggios and lazy grooves at the core assure us this is the same Ultimate Painting that made such a positive impression last year. Listen below.

Green Lanes tracklist:

01 “Kodiak”
02 “Sweet Chris”
03 “(I’ve Got The) Sanctioned Blues”
04 “The Ocean”
05 “Two From The Vault”
06 “The Ocean (reprise)”
07 “Break The Chain”
08 “I Was Lost”
09 “Tee Zee Em”
10 “Paying The Price”
11 “Woken By Noises”
12 “Out In The Cold”

Green Lanes is out 8/7 on Trouble In Mind. Pre-order it here.