Constantines - 'Night Time EP' (Sub Pop)
4/5
By: Thomas Hannan
It should be 'The Constantines', surely? Anyone? Whatever, standing out from the pack is something this fine EP does in its stride, regardless of the absence of an overly used three-letter word. These recent signings to 'ol Sub Pop Records appear from nowhere with a dark, dense tale to tell...
'Night Time Anytime It's Alright', as the title suggests, has a menacing quality unsuited to sunlight and all things cheerful, but not to its detriment - the faintly harrowing yelps of a lonely man ('The night time is my lover/The city is my sister') and persistently jagged guitars create an uneasy atmosphere to treasure, and also harbour a great 'shout along with the Constantines' type chorus too, (always fun, no?).
No such frivolity elsewhere though, so enjoy it while it lasts. Although not a world away from its preceding track, the wonderful 'Tank Commander' showcases further the band's quality of being rather difficult to second guess; while one guitar can happily pluck away at the same few notes for the entire duration of the song, all hell might break loose from each other's instruments without any warning. Chaotic then, apart from the puzzling 'Hotline Operator' where only the title is repeated over six minutes of eerie atmospherics. Is it strangely touching, or wholly pointless? The jury's out. No matter, as all other clues herein are pointing in a more positive direction - we best not let these Constantines out of our sight.
Artists in this article: Constantines
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