The Constant EP

t’s only fitting for a band this authentically traditional to have roots in Birmingham, England. Back in the late '70s, as the rest of England gushed over punk, cities like Coventry and Birmingham spawned the next wave of ska and soul bands, as well as the evolution of allied subcultures. Suedehead takes its name from the smoothies. (A more stylish evolution of the traditional boot boys, smoothies were akin to harder mods.) The Constant is one-third of a brilliant EP triptych from Suedehead. “I Believe in Love” comes out swinging, with horns blaring and an organ grinding as Davey Warsop’s soulful croon invokes the inflections of a pub-rock era Elvis Costello and a modern-day Paul Weller. Not since Thin Lizzy’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” have rock and soul melded as well as they do in the following “Another Man.” And the airtight backing vocals in “Waiting for Connection” suggest that the Suedehead guys must have a collective treasure trove of classic northern soul 45 singles at their disposal. “Slip Away” grooves like a smoother Ocean Colour Scene.