The disco era of the late '70s was full of manufactured studio acts, a label or producer would bring a bunch of studio musicians and vocalists together, record an LP or single and hope that dance club DJs would be receptive. Manufactured studio acts weren't meant to have longevity or test an A&R person's artist development skills, the goal was a quick hit. In 1978, one such act was the Constellation Orchestra, a disco/funk project that was the brainchild of guitarist Moses Dillard and bassist Jesse Boyce. Dillard and Boyce did all of the writing and producing on
Perfect Love Affair, which was
Constellation's only album. The vinyl LP received very little radio airplay on either R&B or pop stations, although it did enjoy some exposure in dance clubs. While none of the album's four songs are terribly original or distinctive, the grooves are infectious and the arrangements are attractive. If you were into frequenting dance clubs back in the late 1970s, hearing "Funk Encounters," "Cosmic Melody," "Dancing Angel," or the title song could easily make you want to leave your table and head for the dance floor. The decent, if limited,
Perfect Love Affair (which Unidisc reissued on CD in 1992) isn't recommended to casual disco fans, but is worth hearing if you're an obsessive disco collector. ~ Alex Henderson