Its intriguing and magical to start with for the return of Jane Weaver.

Its synth-fuelled folk which are what we get here, or at least in the first 3 tracks on Jane Weaver’s 5th album ‘The Fallen By Watchbird.’ Jane Weaver is a resident in Manchester, and in the music scene in Manchester, particularly in the folk area of the scene, particularly in the late 1990’s and early 00’s, where she was playing with the burgeoning early likes of Badly Drawn Boy and Elbow amongst others.
But this time on her 5th album Jane Weaver has formed a group called Septieme Soeur and is releasing the album partly under that name, and it features other musicians of the female variety such as Wendy & Bonnie, Lisa Jen who has collaborated with Gruff Rhys recently, and Susan Christie who is something of an early version or precursor to Florence And The Machine, who was around during the 60’s.
In fact the majority of ‘The Fallen By Watchbird is something of the opposite of Florence And The Machine and anti-folk in a way too. For the most part the album is understated at least to start with and not as in your face and hollering voice as Florence.
The first 2 tracks build up quietly and spookily which by track 2 ‘A Circle And A Star’ has turned into bewitching and twitching sub-electronica.
Before bursting into life on track 3 the title track which has full on female chanting which captures you in its spell, whilst being backed by doomy drums with the sub-electronica really lifting off and with Jane Weaver in particular coming to life.
Then by track 4 ‘A Turning In Circles’ is stripped down back to basics, with just Jane Weavers magical voice and twinkling guitars, its like we’ve been transported to the top of the Glastonbury Tor.
There’s a slightly alien feeling to this album like she’s trying to do something new with fold music. Track 5 ‘Had A Llefrith’ in particular sounds like it was recorded in a cave in a stranded piece of rock out in the ocean.
There’s also a feel of lost love or missing love throughout ‘The Fallen By Watchbird.’
The album does intrigue you throughout to keep on listening and to see what happens next. But it’s the aforementioned title track with its synths, electronica and epic feel which is the highlight and is the only real different track on this album. But the rest of the album, including the steel string beauty of ‘Whispers Of Winter’, is a gorgeous listen throughout. Maybe Jane Weaver can really come out of her shell next time.

Ben Bradford

For fans of Badly Drawn Boy, Elbow, Florence And The Machine. www.myspace.com/janelouiseweaver