How to weave the influences of the past into something forward looking? The answer to that question can be heard in the grooves on the new Jane Weaver record. Love in Constant Spectacle, out now via Fire Records, finds Weaver reaching new heights by marrying emotions to supple textures. The production by John Parish (PJ Harvey, Aldous Harding) gives this whole enterprise a sheen that clashes nicely with Jane's yearning vocals.
The title cut is all coiled passion, with a chorus as big as a James Bond theme song. It's produced with a precision that is impressive, the emotions and sleek surfaces of the tune meshing together into something wonderfully realized. "Perfect Storm" is full of throwback charm, like a single from Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart in another guise, New Wave made assurdedly, while the acoustic elements of "Emotional Components" flavor the song as neatly and smartly as do the electronics. Weaver has never sounded more in command, and the material never so well suited to her unique talents.
Love in Constant Spectacle caught me a little by surprise. I think stylistically, Jane Weaver is going for a bigger sound here than on some of previous releases. When you combine that with intuitive production and big hooks, you get what is perhaps her best solo album to date. Tunes like "Univers" and "Romantic Worlds" sit nicely in my mind next to similar songs from Rose Elinor Dougall and Dot Allison. And readers of this site know how highly I regard those two musicians, of course. Jane Weaver offers up in Love in Constant Spectacle the rare record that's full of emotion as well as electronic textures. The blending of the sleek instrumentation and her warm vocals results in a supremely listenable record. Don't miss this one.
Love in Constant Spectacle by Jane Weaver is out now via Fire Records.
[Photo: Nic Chapman]