Panaracer Paselas are a pretty fast rolling tire really. I think they are better than clinchers of old. Don't count them out. At any rate Panaracer makes all the tires for these boutique companies, and when you buy a Compass tire (or Fairweather, or SOMA, or Swift, etc) they are actually rebranded Panaracers.

Anyway, here's a new SOMA tire that comes in 27" may be a bit nicer than the stock Panaracer Paselas. Soma New Xpress 27" Skinwall Tire

Obviously converting to 700c is going to give you more options. 27" is an obsolescent size. It's fortunate there are as many offerings as there are. It was always a utility size, but currently available tires for it are probably better than anything from the vintage days.