Ultimate Painting were formed in London in 2014, by co-frontmen Jack Cooper and James Hoare, with a revolving cast of rhythm sections. Blackpool-born singer-guitarist Jack Cooper, who previously fronted Mazes and co-fronted Beep Seals with ex-Alfie guitarist Ian Smith, and Torbay-born singer-guitarist James Hoare, who co-fronts Proper Ornaments and also co-fronted Veronica Falls, joined forces to write and record together, and after signing to Trouble in Mind, they released their self-titled debut album in 2014. Follow-up album 'Green Lanes' came out in 2015, and third album 'Dusk' followed in September 2016. In October 2017, the band signed to UK label Bella Union, and it was confirmed that they were working on their next album at James Hoare's home studio. On 29 January 2018 the band released 'Not Gonna Burn Myself Anymore' as a digital single, and revealed the release date of fourth album 'Up!' was to be April 2018. On 12 February 2018, Jack Cooper announced that the band were splitting up, adding that "the partnership at the core of this band has always been a very fragile thing, but due to an irreconcilable breakdown we will no longer be working with each other". Despite having an album in the can, Cooper asked Ultimate Painting's label not to release it, and they agreed. 'Up!' was not slated for release until 06 April 2018, but barring any last-minute changes Cooper or Hoare might have made, the album was totally finished, with completed artwork, and advance digital downloads of the album had been sent out to journalists for review. One of these reviews claimed that it was a good record, filled with the same sort of Kinks-inspired understated hooks and quietly propulsive guitar lines that powered their previous releases. In retrospect, the press release that was sent out with the album reads like a foreshadowing, citing a "burned out" feeling amongst the band members, and "pain and indecision" that plagued their writing process. Given the number of digital copies that had already been sent out to journalists, it's no surprise that 'Up!' soon found its way to dedicated fans, whether through official channels or otherwise, and so here it is so that you can hear the swansong of this tragically short-lived and under-rated band.
Track listing
01 Needles In My Eyes
02 Not Gonna Burn Myself Anymore
03 I Am Your Gun
04 Foul & Fair
05 Someone's Out To Get You
06 Take Shelter
07 My Procedure
08 Lying In Charles Street
09 Darkness In His Eyes
10 Snake Pass
