Joan of Arc- Flowers (Poly Vinyl Rec)
For those unaware of Joan Of Arc, a brief history is in order: Joan Of Arc came out of the ashes of Cap'n Jazz. Singer Tim Kinsella has been the only consistent member of the band, and other members have been in a slew of other bands and Kinsella has also fronted Owls and American Football. After over a dozen Joan of Arc releases in 12 years and a break up, 'Flowers' is slated for release on June 9th.
Forever known for being a cryptic band (and that's putting it charitably), Joan of Arc are most commonly known for pairing subtle guitars with hushed electronics and purposefully confusing wordplay. 'Flowers' doesn't deviate too much from that, with quite a few acoustic numbers containing samples and some full band arrangements as well. Kinsella's music has always had a very esoteric feel, but there is still plenty of universal themes in his songs, and while some of his previous work has taken multiple listens to absorb, 'Flowers' is instantly likeable.
In the past, it wasn't uncommon for Joan of Arc to write a record of noodling, disjointed tracks (it's always been part of their charm), though 'Flowers' actually glides together with a fluidity rarely found in Kinsella's music. Seeing as how this was recorded in several different places with many different musicians and basically improvised in the studio, this is quite a surprise.
Forever shunning conventional songwriting, Joan Of Arc continue to utilize interesting guitar, piano and electronic work in a way all their own. Comparisons are nearly impossible here, but in their sparse moments they can parallel Radiohead ala 'Hail To The Theif' era. Whether you're the first time listener or a long time fan, 'Flowers' will not disappoint.
