Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Beauty Constant - demos (1986)

In the spring of 2009, I happened upon an intriguing looking platter by a long defunct down state New York band over 20 years after the fact.  The album in question was Like the Enemy and it's creators dubbed themselves Beauty Constant, but so far as I was concerned their moniker may as well have read "God's gift to indie rock."  I shared my posthumous discovery with the world at large on August 25, 2009, and the response, while not overwhelming, was praiseworthy to say the least.  Boasting a sonic aptitude that spanned the gamut from IRS-era REM to the Replacements, Beauty Constant's roughhewn, yet endearingly empathetic songs were as much a visceral experience to these ears as my initial encounters with the Lemonheads and Husker Du in the late '80s.

On an unsuspecting Super Bowl Sunday, a reader informed me that not only was he a fellow Beauty Constant fan, he was the group's soundboard guy.  Better yet, he came bearing a gift, namely an old demo cassette of seven B/C tracks including five entirely unreleased songs, and early versions of a pair of Like the Enemy's quieter moments "Second Minor One" and "It's One Life."  A veritable goldmine, to me anyways, and perhaps to you if you've had the good fortune of hearing ...Enemy for yourself (the link is the first paragraph, so no excuses)!  Submitted for your approval are those seven coveted songs.  Typically. the volume output level for the best one of the bunch, "Reform" is lower than the rest of them, but at some point in the near future I hope to rectify that.  That aside, hear the magic for yourself and enjoy!  Many thanks Ross.  

Effigy
Halcyon Days
It's One Life
Reform
Second Minor One
Swamp
The Last Time

Hear
at

5 comments:

  1. bglobe313March 4, 2011 at 5:34 AM

    Your post of these demos reminded me of how much I had enjoyed the music in the earlier Beauty Constant post.

    These demos are great too.

    This is the real stuff.

    Categorize it as college rock, indie, alternative, whatever. But truth is it's just great rock! Ringing guitars, emotional vocals, lyrics that don't offend, and a rhythm section that keeps it pumping.

    In my alternate universe they gets them at least to the level of Matchbox Twenty in popularity.

    Send kinds words and thanks to the person who sent you this.

    Ace K.

    ReplyDelete
  2. spavidMarch 4, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    Here, here Ace! Beauty Constant really had something intrinsically brilliant to offer, and it would've been intersting had they delivered another album or two. Will pass your comments along.

    ReplyDelete
  3. mkiApril 1, 2014 at 11:12 AM

    re-up? please!

    ReplyDelete
  4. spavidApril 1, 2014 at 7:04 PM

    The link has been updated.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AntonSeptember 4, 2022 at 12:10 PM

    that would be great if you post Chihoe Hahn s/t. 'The Last Time' was realised on this s/t.

    ReplyDelete