Loops In The Secret Society ［CD+DVD］

Over a few years' time, Jane Weaver released two albums and an EP that redefined her as a psychedelic wizard who used electronics, her expressive voice, and burgeoning production skills to cast a dark and entrancing spell. Loops in the Secret Society is a collection that reworks tracks from 2015's The Silver Globe and 2017's Modern Kosmology albums, as well as 2017's Architect EP, along with quite a few ambient interludes made up of synthy squiggles, atmospheric diversions, and moody electronic wanderings that fit in between like tiny, gleaming gems. It also sneaks in a track -- "Majik Milk" -- from her 2011 album Watchbird Alluminate. Unlike the usual case when an artist revisits their work, Loops in the Secret Society isn't a remix album and Weaver doesn't change the basic structure of the songs. Instead, she adds and sometimes subtracts elements from the original songs to create new versions. It's like she's putting a new coat of paint on an already beautiful wall -- it's not entirely necessary, but nice just the same. Her work is mostly very subtle, with minor adjustments: sweeping drones, echoing effects, and ghostly sounds applied lightly as needed. "Cells" is given a celestial recasting that's twice as radiant as the already glowing original; "Mission Desire" shifts from gritty cop show soundtrack to a hollowed-out, beamed-from-space approach; "H>A>K" is more focused, with a plinky drum machine replacing the pounding drums of the original; "Did You See Butterflies" is wrapped in echoing vocal harmonies and squelchy sequencers; and one of her very best songs, "Slow Motion," is stretched out and softened with effects to become the emotional center of the album, and brilliant synth pop, too. On the whole, these aren't the boldest reimaginings of her songs that she could have delivered, but it makes for an extremely uplifting listening experience that works as a lovely placeholder until her next album -- and as a calling card for anyone unlucky enough to not already be familiar with Weaver's sound and songs. ~ Tim Sendra