JANE: Close Up and Real

Jane

Close Up and Real

© 2003 Jane/Tomboy Music (634479922329)

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Gorgeous country pop songs with a jazzy tinge - sometimes delicate & wistful,sometimes upbeat & funky, all topped by Jane's lush vocals & soaring, tight harmonies - described by reviewers as: "a more soulful Sheryl Crow" & "a hybrid of Dido & Aimee Mann."

notes

There is an amazing story behind Jane's current popularity. Having 'given up' on a career in music after a decade of 'proper jobs and real life', she recently discovered a legion of fans on the internet.

In response to this find, Jane self released 'Close Up And Real' in February 2003 and the feedback since, has been nothing short of astonishing.

In 12 weeks her music received more than 6000 downloads.
She's now sold over 2000 copies of Close Up And Real.
Tracks have been selected as incidental music for TV and film.

Jane was number 1 in the indie chart for 6 weeks in the summer of 2003 and her story has been featured in several UK magazines and newspapers.


Jane says: " I'm delighted and astonished by the response I've had. I'd long since given up any hope of doing anything with my music. Let's face it, I'm a thirty something mother of three, hardly 'rock star' material, yet it doesn't seem to matter. In the current climate of an image dominated music industry I never believed I would stand a chance, yet given the choice, people really don't seem to care that much about age, looks or status. They just like the songs and it's brilliant...it's exactly what music should be about."

reviews

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  • Jane is GREAT and SMOOTH
    author: Doug

    I loved both of her CD's I highly recommend them. She has a great voice, and the music is very good.

  • her voice makes the songs.......
    author: tony porter

    Her voice makes the songs. The songs make her voice. The arrangement gives it the finish it deserves. We already have three favourite tracks and the list is growing.Just off to buy her new SEEDLING.

  • Where's she been hiding?
    author: Greg - Customer

    This album a 'must have' addition in any serious music lovers collection. Quite simply, it's wonderful.

  • Great first album
    author: JazzCD's

    Close Up and Real is a wonderful debut album from UK writer Jane which demonstrates her quite exceptional songwriting abilities and spans the first 10 years of her writing career. The tight, quirky backing vocals which have become her signature sound, are evident throughout most tracks and of course each song is complemented by the outstanding musicianship of the individual players.

  • Surprisingly fresh
    author: Rising of Women in Music

    Surprisingly fresh, Jane, close up and real, is a CD to take seriously. A collection of pleasing, upbeat, and genuine songs that all work. From One Voice to There is No Escape, Jane finds a way to bring forth a depth not often heard.

  • bags of talent
    author: Tony Cummings - Cross Rhythms

    According to the sleeve the 16 tracks (plus a remix) on here are culled from 10 years of recordings representing Jane’s “early faltering steps into the world of music as well as my most recent work.” I’m pleased that Jane kept on the journey because clearly the lass has bags of talent both as a songwriter and singer. There’s a wide variety of styles here, haunting acoustic narrative songs (“Borderline”), country-tinged opuses (“One Voice”), while the resplendently named “The Cauliflower Song” isn’t as you might suspect from that title, a comedy cut, but a haunting groove (especially the remix) dealing with the dangers of entertaining thoughts about a fantasy lover. The fascinating selection ends with a haunting song of faith, “You Are (My Refuge And Strength)”. Definitely a talent to watch, let’s not have to wait 10 years for another album, Jane.

  • Well crafted songs with thoughtful lyrics
    author: Essex online listeners feedback

    Not the instantly accessible pop pap that gets all the airtime these days but would Neil Young make it on Pop Idol? Well crafted songs with thoughtful lyrics that could drop into many an artists repertoire but delivered on this album by Jane herself (whose voice is much better than a good number of chart acts) backed by skilful musicians who deliver the songs brilliantly.

  • Very well presented
    author: Talent Star UK

    (The song) Alive displays a fantastic set of emotions and is indeed one of the finer tracks... As the album proceeded to play I started to warm to Jane's music. Whereas there will be a market out there for Jane's material, I very much doubt that it will be commercially popular, and would be more popular with a 'cultish' audience.

  • A variety of different styles...
    author: Nigel D (customer)

    This album is a collection of songs recorded over a number of years and this is shown mainly by the variety of different styles of the songs. What is apparent is that Jane has a great gift for writing in a lot of different styles of music and additionally it highlights the talent she has for singing them. The album opens with a gentle paced Jazzy song ‘Never Mind It’s Alright’ and moves through the good strong Pop of ‘Come What May’ and onto the first two Suzanne Vega style songs in ‘Borderline’ and ‘Alive’. ‘Til The Next Time’ is in the style of Tori Amos and country and Eastern style influences also appear in the first half of the album. Red Red Raw brings a cross between Ricky Lee Jones and Paul Simon to mind while the album moves from the slightly up-tempo ‘There Is No Escape’ to the ballad ‘Breathe’. These tracks are followed by my personal favourites ‘These Days’ a track with a catchy chorus and ‘Carry Me’ which has some great piano in it as well as some soaring dramatic vocals. Jane also surrounds herself with some excellent musicians, which give the album more of a band feel to it, a definite plus in my opinion Two of my favourite artists in this style are Suzanne Vega and Tori Amos and I can pay no greater complement than to say that Jane is ...not far behind. I, for one, look forward to the next album.

  • Jane has an excellent voice
    author: Americana UK

    Jane has an excellent voice and has written some good songs ("Come What May" and "These Days" are best of the bunch) (she) is backed by plenty of fine musicians. It’s extremely poppy (even jazzy in places) ... It is without doubt eminently preferable to 99% of chart pap around these days.

  • A songwriter full of inspiration and determined perseverance,
    author: Daniela Maestro

    a songwriter full of inspiration and determined perseverance, supported by the collective efforts of several gifted individuals, dedicating years of her own blood, sweat and tears to produce one very long-awaited album. It seems to be yet another fairly typical tale amongst the many DIY hard luck stories that abound in independent music -- except that in this case, the record in question took a full ten years to produce, and the artist is a thirty-something English housewife. Jane never intended to make a career out of singing, but after years of writing songs and intermittently performing, a close friend uploaded a few of her tracks onto the net and a small fan base was born. Five years later, Close Up And Real was released as a response to the steady stream of positive feedback she has received via email as a result of this limited exposure...the progression and breadth of the album's content most ably demonstrates Jane's songwriting skills and the scope of her vocal capabilities. Her delivery is strong and polished, imbued with an occasional melodramatic flair, and her songs exhibit an admirable level of genuine honesty and heartfelt emotion, flavored with tinges of theatrical pop, expressive folk and an unexpected dash of Nashville. Several of the earlier pieces seem to channel moments of early Madonna or mid-'80s Kate Bush, while some of the later work falls squarely between modern crossover country and tasteful Top 40 balladry. ... the album clearly establishes Jane's accomplished abilities as a vocalist and a songwriter. Close Up And Real should serve her well as a base, should she decide to continue on this career path. With proper production and a slightly more subtle aesthetic, she could find herself with a much larger audience.

  • I have just bought this album
    author: Simon Brayburn (customer)

    This is a great album. I wouldn't normally feel compelled to write a review but I wanted to say how much I've enjoyed this. Jane's music at times reminds me of Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos but there's elements of Johnatha Brooke and Bonnie Raitt in there too. But mainly, she has a distinctive, original sound and now I've heard it, I can completely understand what the fuss is about. It's a lovely album and I certainly got my money's worth with 17 tracks. I do recommend that you give this CD a try...almost certainly, you wont be dissapointed.

  • This is the album that almost never was ...
    author: Rob Mellett - Yellow Advertiser

    With the mention of a silly password, we eased past the doorman and headed for the bar. My pal and I had dropped in for the album launch party of Close Up And Real by Jane. This is the album that almost never was, but after unearthing a huge fan base on the web, Jane made the step of gathering 10 years' worth of songs for this new compilation. A collection of 17 tracks, Close Up An Real also features musicians who've graced the world stages but remained true to their roots. The sorely missed jazz supremo, pianist Pete Jacobsen appears, as does bass guitarist and producer Dave Bronze of Eric Clapton and Dr. Feelgood fame. ...with songs like The cauliflower song, apparently written when she was making cauliflower cheese, she finds her strengths. Roomy and unrushed, the songs is also performed to perfection (at the CD launch party). The album remix version (of the cauliflower song) features masterful percussion, bass booms and multi tracked acoustic guitar. But Jane remains humble in the growing interest in her work. "In the grand scheme of things, being a musician isn't that important. I'm under no illusions. I've never really considered myself to be a proper vocalist so am always surprised and delighted when I learn that people enjoy my singing. I started out as a songwriter with no plans to sing the songs myself however, in the absence of anyone else to perform them, I found myself doing it." Rob Mellett - Yellow Advertiser February 19th 2003

  • this is a work worthy of credit
    author: Paul Tait ALBUM REVEIWS.

    ...The Cauliflower Song should definitely be the flagship track ... this is a work worthy of credit ... she certainly has the capability to make a name for herself not just in country rock circles, but in the mainstream chart arena too. Paul Tait ALBUM REVEIWS.

  • That this record ever came out is a small triumph.
    author: Nick Southall - Stylus magazine

    The anonymously surname-less Jane is a 30-something English mum who gave up on the idea of pursuing a career in music years ago, in all probability because she isn’t enough of a hard-nosed bitch to deal with the machinations of the filthiest industry known to man. And that’s fair enough. Her authentic, heartfelt, middle-of-the-road new country was destined to remain closeted away from public consumption. That is until a friend uploaded some of Jane’s tentative early recordings onto the net. Over the next few weeks emails requesting more information, and, more importantly, more songs, started rolling in. And so, slowly, almost ten years after she’d given it up, Jane’s musical career began to take off. Good things do come to those who wait. So what’s the music actually like, after all this kerfuffle to finally get it heard? ... solid and passionate...accomplished and tuneful to a degree that suggests a large audience is certainly within reach. Jane claims she’s never seen herself as a singer, but rather a songwriter who always imagined other vocalists would perform her material. Considering this self-doubt it’s a surprise to find that she’s actually blessed with a surprisingly strong and wide-ranging voice. So much so that, on occasion (the chorus of Come What May in particular), she is actually guilty of melisma, that ululating vibrato-of-one-vowel-sound that US r’n’b singers (I’m aiming the rifle at you, Mariah) are so often guilty of. The important thing to realise is that this is not an album, per se, but rather a collection of songs culled from ten years of work, and as such it doesn’t really fit together or flow as you might wish it to. Generally the newer songs are better than the older, which have been produced in such a way as to date them quickly. The remix of The Cauliflower song finds a simple but well-formed country song being driven by the kind of modernist production that has taken David Gray to massive success, and yet manages to stay well away from the head-shakingly awful territory of Shania Twain’s nauseating dance-country-pop hybrid. Borderline is an understatedly sad affair brushed with elegiac strings and touches of gently soporific bass guitar. ...generally Jane’s songs, especially the more recent ones, are of a brand of brazenly honest and nakedly emotional country, which at times sounds eerily born of Nashville for an English housewife. At 17 tracks over 70 minutes it’s a bit much to take in one sitting, but nevertheless these are fine, well crafted songs. Nick Southall - Stylus magazine Feb 2003

  • In recent years, a number of very fine artists have chosen to work independent o
    author: Shakenstir Magazine

    In the current and developing music industry climate it's not surprising with the high-spending emphasis on mainstream, mediocre and young (arguably) good-lookers. So it's a real pleasure to be emailed by an artist taking the independent route, and especially one with such obvious talent as Jane. My most immediate reaction was to compare Jane's voice to another great English talent, Helen Watson, who wowed me in the early eighties and still does today. Jane's voice is distinctive, mature, easy, expressive and at times, expansive. In short, it's lovely. But Jane's talent goes further. This album is made up of both old and new material written by the lady, and the total 'package' is very impressive. Jane's music is a strong and very digestible mix of pop, jazz and light country; strong on melody and with lyrics that make sense. The upbeat Never Mind It's Alright gets the album off to a flying start and in addition to the great voice, there's excellent instrumental contributions, and a seductive backing vocal from Wendy Roberts. The sound is definitely Stateside and jazzy, and it wets the appetite nicely. Come What May follows and really does remind me of Helen Watson at her very best. This is a gorgeous song with memorable vocal gymnastics, beautiful piano arrangement, and a Captain Hook of a melody. By this point, I have to conclude that Jane has created a sound of her own which deserves a wide and admiring audience. Snatches of wandering strings introduce the next beauty, Borderline. This is a slow, moody rendition with a compelling string arrangement and almost talking-pace vocal. Backing vocals are subtle and enchanting. This is such a beautiful song and I'm tempted to make this my highlight of the album. But there are seventeen song on this album and loads more to come. For a strong country vibe and the sort of song that you'll find yourself singing along to, try One Voice. Jane likes to give her musicians room to breathe, and there's no better example than Till The Next Time where the keyboard backdrop adds depth and drama to the song. The album is wonderfully structured and diverse in pace and mood; the sort of album that you listen to right through, time and time again. Jane will appeal to a more mature audience and I can envisage a time when she ventures over the big pond to play some important clubs in New York and elsewhere - so good is the music, the voice and this album. A contender for one of the records of 2003? You bet! Highly recommended. Tony Porter ShakenStir Magazine February 2003

  • Jane is fresh, up to date and very thought provoking & still entertaining.
    author: Gary Bradford

    There is NO sameness about Jane's songs, each one stands on its own. She is fresh and original, thought provoking but always entertaining. Jane is exciting and definitely better than sliced bread, even wholemeal.

  • Great Debut CD from Jane
    author: digital blues

    Must tell you about this excellent new CD from Essex based Jane. Great songs, great lyrics, great variety - in fact GREAT. I love the first track, in fact it is a perfect opener for a fine varied collection of songs with thoughtful and thought provoking lyrics. A definite Buy recommendation! ASHWYN Listen to digital blues for the best in blues and real R'n'B with me, Ashwyn Smyth, only on phoenixfm.com, Internet radio for Brentwood, Billericay and the World, at . For gigs near you, visit the Movinmusic Digital Blues Gig Guide at http://www.movinmusic.co.uk If you want your gigs published in the guide, contact ashwyn@digitalblues.co.uk

  • author: Tomboy Music Group

    Jane combines intelligent, thoughtful lyrics with catchy, heart stirring tunes. Her music has been likened to artists such as Rickie Lee Jones, Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell and Sheryl Crow. If you’re a fan of the new country movement this is a ‘must have’ album for your collection.

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