With Robbie Robertson's Testimony already finding its way to us, the issue of Jane Siberry's album "Angels Bend Closer", may make this some kind of a Canada special week. Not that Robertson's and Jane's album have musicaly much in common, unless you only count musical imagination. And Jane Siberry, who has been around since the Eighties, has plenty of it.
Another thing that you can say Siberry shares with Robertson, along with being Canadian and having musical imagination is that you cannot simply put a time stamp on her music. She might have come to the scene in the Eighties, but even the music then, or the one she makes now cannot give you the sense of time in which it was made. You could definitely call it something like esotheric rock. Definitely not progressive rock, since that is usually connected to a male concept and has a bad name among some music followers. Whatever the brand you put on it, it is definitely good music.
Actually, this is the second Siberry album that is out this year, the first one, "Ulysses' Purse", was a a fan funded affair, and was supposed to be "her last formal record". Obviously not. Formal or informal, it doesn't matter, personally, I feel lucky this one is out. Not that there has been a bad Siberry record out that I know of. Whether it is her emotinally intense stuff from the Eighties, personified in a minor hit "Mimi On The Beach", or the Nineties stuff produced by Eno or recorded with a Jazz quintet, or anything that has come along the way afterwards.
As with other Siberry albums, you can always recognize her distinctive voice and a musical touch that leaves no stone unturned, musically. Also, the fact that this music is always emotinally satisfying, at least personally - whether it is the introductory "Walk On The Water", "In My Dream" or concluding "The Great Train", you know it is Siberry, you know you can expect the unexpected and definitely not be disappointed. Another joy to listen to.
