Constantines are a band I regularly have to kick myself about - over a number of years I had a handful of opportunities to see them live and I never once saw them. In my defence, I didn't get into them until long after they'd broken up, but somehow that makes me feel worse; sheer ignorance meant I never saw them, rather than my usual laziness (which I've come to terms with).
I first heard Constantines on their Daytrotter session - this was back when I first discovered Daytrotter and spent all my time at the office just listening to Daytrotter sessions. I have no recollection of what it was that made me click on the Constantines session, but I guess it was that vague familiarity you get when you see a band name in certain places that makes you think they'd be worth checking out. Most notably, they'd played at the Explosions in the Sky-curated All Tomorrow's Parties (and that was a line-up I spent many hours getting excited over). I listened to their session and was so, so incredibly impressed. I had two especially noteworthy moments from that Daytrotter period and they were from hearing Constantines and from hearing Low.
The Constantines session was incredible for how raucous and energetic they sounded. They played like they hated their instruments and I loved it. A short while later I picked up a copy of Shine a Light (on cd) and later Tournament of Hearts and Kensington Heights. I enjoyed them all, but none quite captured the band in the same way that Daytrotter session did (or, for that matter, how I imagine they were every time they played live). Take Sub-Domestic for example - here it's a relatively slow album closer, but on that session everything is dialled up and that outro just has this extra edge to it. Makes you wonder, if that's how they played Sub-Domestic live, how full-on would the heavier songs have sounded? That difference between the band on record and the band live is what makes me think of Constantines every time I see or hear Restorations. All that said, the songs here are all still excellent and National Hum and Shine a Light start the record in incredible style. Insectivora is a huge highlight for me, as are On to You and Tank Commander.
Anyway, a few months ago I found this re-release in Truck Records and snapped it up - not only was it very reasonably priced, but included was a bonus 7" (featuring two covers and a strange, alternative version of Hotline Operator). I'd not seen it there before and I certainly wasn't going to just hope it was still there the next time I went in. I left the store very happy that day (and, interestingly, I've not seen it there since). An excellent find.
Format: 12", 7", gatefold sleeve
Tracks: 15
Cost: £15 new
Bought: Truck Records
When: 26/07/14
Colour: Black
Etching: none
mp3s: Download code
