Jane Weaver’s 2014 album The Silver Globe was surprisingly overlooked on its release. Maybe it was just unlucky scheduling but thankfully with the release of the deluxe edition (which also featured The Amber Light LP) in early 2015, was given the publicity and critical acclaim her fantastic galactic-psych-kraut-pop sound truly deserved. Having been in Britpop group Killing Laura between 1993-1997, forming folktronic project Misty Dixon between 2002-2004, as well as running the Bird Record label, her sixth and seventh (and frankly wondrous) solo album have brought Jane Weaver into the limelight with a sound that is so unique and sonically pleasing that it has made her Brighton gig one of the most sought after tickets of the year.

 

With blustery wet weather storming outside, the Green Door Store turned into an intimate room of expectant music lovers who were full of anticipation for Jane’s live cosmic voyage into space rock. The show started with heavier than expected dark and sometimes brash psychedelic sounds with sonic bending synth that made you immediately submit from the beginning to the bands kraut beat. The meticulous and faultless five piece created layer upon layer of trance impelling music – delving into the sometimes industrial dub sounds of Massive Attack, the psych-pop of Stereolab and the ethereal beauty of Goldfrap.

 

For the duration, you were taken away from the muggy atmosphere inside the sold out venue and transported onto a voyage through dark dingy underground sounds to the highest points of galaxy tripping space. Periodic bleeps, beats and other interesting sound effects managed to make the gig timeless, almost hypnotising the crowd with droney chords, thick bass and raw guitar sounds. Jane’s unworldly high pitched vocals and graceful stage presence was a real highlight of the performance, especially prevailing in a “slow down section” which featured the glorious ‘If Only We Could Be In Love’ and ‘Your Time In This Life Is Just Temporary’.

 

Obvious favourites included the remarkable singles ‘Don’t Take My Soul’ and ‘Mission Desire’ but throughout the set you also got to experience the other gems in Jane Waver’s catalogue, such as the drawn back ‘Cells’ and ‘Stealing Gold’ which brought the audience back down to earth in the shows encore.

 

Perhaps it was the stupendous heat inside the Green Door Store that kept playing on my mind (Jane saying “It is so hot it here, it’s like yoga”) but, as captivating as the set was, I did feel that the show was lacking a certain something which was hard to pinpoint. I suggest seeing Jane Weaver for yourself as you will definitely not be disappointed – she is playing at Mutations Festival in Brighton on the 28th November.

Iain Lauder