I'll admit that I was drawn and sort of repelled by "Mimi on the Beach" when it first showed up on MuchMusic back in 1984 ... however, like the Borg were so fond of saying, "Resistance is futile." The song grew on me, but it wouldn't be until after I bought
The Speckless Sky, based on the irresistible strength of "One More Colour" that I started to consider myself a fan. "One More Colour" may have been a hit in terms of cracking the top 40 here at home, but it should have been huge .
This was the album that made me a fan. Shortly after I went and bought No Borders Here. I kept up with her releases for many years. I still consider myself a fan but times change and I didn't (still don't) have the necessary budget to buy everything that I want. Streaming is fun but having the whole world at your fingertips does sort of take the shine off things a little. Weird.
Regardless, with
The Speckless Sky, Jane was back with her band, Al Cross, Anne Bourne, John Switzer, and Ken Myhr and boy howdy they were a well oiled machine. The album is a wonderful balance of haunting pop songs and artistic expression. I lean toward the pretty songs but will not begrudge her the artsy fartsy stuff. They are integral to the experience. While there are only eighth songs, this is a full record.
Of the eight songs the balance between pop and quirky for me is right down the middle. The album opens with a dreamy combination, "One More Colour" a song that is nearly perfect and delivered flawlessly. There's a lot going on, and all of it is good. It is also the highlight of the album. It's followed by "Seven Steps to the Wall" another wonderful song, but this one incorporates more alternative elements while still maintaining a polished sheen. Then it's as if she figures she's done enough to prepare you as a listener to go on more of an adventure off the beaten path. "The Very Large Hat" and especially the more challenging "Vladimir Vladimir" are not really my cup of coffee (I do take it black), I don't skip the songs when I play the album and to me they are integral to the whole experience.
The second side picks right up where it left off. "Mein Bitte" which if I'm right means, "My Request" or a derivative most likely a plea or prayer or petition. Lyrically I adore this song.
i love to do what I love to do
this excludes anything i don't like to do
the pleasure is in the peace of mind
the pleasure is mine
... mein bitte ...
"The Empty City" is a song I can never recall but as soon as I hear it I remember it. It's a dreamy song that ebbs and flows. It's ethereal and clunky and weirdly forgettable which is still perplexing to me. However the foundation that has been carefully constructed over the previous six songs is about to pay off. I refuse to believe the sequencing of the songs was not deliberate. While "One More Colour" is the best pop song on the album, and one of my favourite songs in her catalogue, the centrepiece of
The Speckless Sky is "Map of the World (part II)" if "Mimi on the Beach" had a kissing cousin this is the song that feels like a musical companion and bookend. It is not a derivative copy, it is musical awesomeness. The song contains all of the Siberry hallmarks and they are perfectly aligned and executed. It has an accordion part which is enough right there to make this special. The song is also an earworm of the highest order. da da ... rinse and repeat.
I. Love. This. Song.
Where do you go after this?
You end with a breathtakingly beautiful song. "The Taxi Ride" is built around a lone classical guitar (nylon string is how the credits describe it) accompanied by textured keyboards and some ambient guitar. It's a vocal showcase and while I am moved by the lyrics I don't spent too much time trying to decode them. Let's be honest I am not a deep thinker. I let them resonate, and the ending keyboard part that sounds like a muted primal scream fades into the dead wax ... it is haunting.
When it's over you just sit in the quiet. Then if you're like me and have the time you flip it over and do it again.
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