ART-ROCK
Chris Roberts samples the new releases on the prog/rock boundary.
It’s become de rigeur for bands straying remotely from the beaten path to hubristically claim a bond with Talk Talk’s spectral classic Spirit Of Eden. Most, in fact, get nowhere near. The new Constant Smiles album Moonflowers (Felte) gets within nodding distance, which is high praise. This New York band, begun by Ben Jones in Martha’s Vineyard over a decade ago, have a curious past, with indie-folk releases referencing Kenneth Anger and John Waters. Their debut for their new label is a quiet quantum leap into immersive, purring moodiness, albeit without sacrificing songs and groove. The title track, featuring Cassandra Jenkins, moves seamlessly from neo-Nick Drake into a burbling Jean-Michel Jarre electro detour and back. Everything Is Personal is a warm hum; Harriman has a Coney Island Baby-era Lou Reed shuffle. A rare lightness of touch.