Joan of Arc: Flowers

Joan of Arc’s Flowers is a monument of resilience. Though they out to sound like the indie graybeards they (figuratively) are, the members of Joan of Arc manage to remain bright-eyed and fresh-faced on this latest release. As Tim Kinsella proclaims in opener “Fogbow,” “Nothing bounces one’s step like hitting bottom.” Beats that barely hang together and melodies that go where they please prove that creativity can flourish in all circumstances, even as the band itself has undergone constant mutations in its decades of existence. The album plunges between acoustic jams, electronic experimentation and pop weirdness; there is plenty for the ears to latch onto.

The best tracks are sparse melodically but full of perfect ambience, alive like a forest at night. “The Garden of Cartoon Exclamations” wonderfully incorporates choral synchrony, bizarre wordsmithing and sparse piano plinks that give way to richly textured guitar wails. “Fasting” and “Fable of the Elements” play with found sounds and simple structures that tickle the ear and refresh the palate. “Explain Yourselves #2” kicks in with a singular guitar stutter, and Kinsella’s voice is still youthful and fresh as he sings, “No one wants to die with a couple hundred bucks still stuck in the sock drawer.” That’s the key to this album: Why hold things in reserve? Flowers tosses it all in with abandon.

Are the lyrics often incomprehensible? Are the extended acoustic tracks at times self-indulgent, bottom-heavy and directionless? Yes. But the album is a reminder of the joy of creation. These artists who have started over time and again remain fresh and loose.

http://www.joanfrc.com/