That thing, an elusive, intuitive musical hive-mindedness informs every note theacclaimed San Diego quartet ever play, live or on record, but is especially present on thismini-album ‘Midnight Palms’.

The mini-LP is on marbled coloured vinyl with a matt finish jacket.

Tracked largely live-in-the-studio with veteran producer, longtime friend and fellow traveller Thom Monahan (Vetiver, Fruit Bats, Devendra Banhart), ‘Midnight Palms’ oozes with the sticky, syrupy energy of a band fresh off the road and “in rare form”, as the expression goes. Recorded at the end of one of the band’s blitzkrieg road runs (which might see the band playing as many as 28 shows in 29 days), the collection’s lived-in live feel should surprise few.

The core founding trio of Tim Denardo, Anthony Lukens and Sam Sprague drive the proceedings. Drummer Sprague alternately (and effortlessly) sets a lock-step driving pace, as on album opener ‘Hurt Somebody,’ a bouncy girl-group groove (‘Day by Day’), or a lazy gallop, as on the languid ‘Star Bird’, which the drummer also sings.

The fourth Donkey on Midnight Palms is The Hold Steady’s Steve Selvidge, stepping in after the (amicable) departure of long-time guitarist Jesse Gulati. His pointed, tasteful leads are peppered throughout ‘Midnight Palms’, most notably on the searing ‘Hold On To You’. In all, The Donkeys have crafted in this ‘Midnight Palms’ mini- album a fine, half-sized document of their singular sound.

At once accessible, adventurous, nostalgic, and progressive, it can only be The Donkeys.

“Their jangly guitars, casually friendly vocal harmonies and gently psychadelic synths are basically sunny music incarnate.” – Noisey

“One of the chillest, coolest sounds you’re likely to find” – TLOBF (‘Ride The Black Wave’)