Modern Kosmology

Arguably the hardest album I have had to rank so far and the first one to really make me question why exactly it was included on this list. I was intrigued at first due to it being the newest album I have listened to so far as well as it being from an artist I have never heard of. I can genuinely say that I liked this album (didn't necessarily love it), but after giving it some more thought, I was left baffled as to its placement in the 1001 Albums You Should Hear Before You Die. This sounds harsh, but I didn't feel it did anything unique or overly interesting for an album that came out in 2017. Everything that I enjoyed has already done before, and I didn't find Jane to have a particularly standout voice. I ended up looking into this one a bit more after seeing that she has less than 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and this album does not even have a Wikipedia page (!). This isn't a mark of its quality at all as it is a fine album, but all of this really made me question why such a niche artist was selected as "required before you die" listening. I can only think of personal preference being a reason for its placement (maybe the author really likes this artist?). While I did like this one more than other albums I feel have a legitimate reason for being on this list, I do not feel the need to come back to it and do not understand why it was included over so many other amazing albums. 2.5/5.

We listened to it. It was music.

I like it. It's meditative and trance-y and somewhere between indie rock and 70s psychedelia and bedroom pop. If I listen to it again, it might be a five. The cool thing is, I could see myself listening to it closely or just having it on in the background and liking it both ways.

Very much my jam! Super soft dreamy vocals, driving krautrocky motorik rhythms, luscious indie pop melodies... Fave track - "H>A>K", but "Did You See Butterfiles", "Slow Motion", "The Architect", and "I Wish" could all take the top spot too on a different listen!

Just another mediocre wispy female vocal. Not much to get excited about.

This record couldn’t be more up my alley: Krautrock and Velvet Underground influence, motorik beats, hefty doses of analog synths *and* a guest appearance from Malcom Mooney? While Stereolab’s influence is apparent, there’s enough individuality and interesting ideas to keep it from feeling like a mere rehash.

Awesome record. Thanks to this I met Jane Weaver

It's not too often, but my favorite thing in this project when an album assignment goes from, "oh, who the hell is this now?" to "Ah, this was JUST what I needed to hear today!" I don't even know where to begin to talk about the album, it has some sort of timeless (well, within the last half century) electronica to it, but also lovely melodies and such an engaging voice. I never got tired of listening to it. Wonderful!

I can't completely explain it but I love this album. I love her voice and vocal variety. I love the drums and precussion. I love the ambient sounds layered over the synthesizers and other instruments. There's a repetitious vibe that makes it stick but so many other disconnected things happening that it keeps my interest (i.e. singing birds, violins, syncopated shaker, etc.) I'm glad I crossed paths with this album.

Love her moody and melodic songs. The Lightning Back is my favourite track 10/10 would listen cover to cover again

Seems to not belong here. It's not bad, but I don't seem to see any significance to it

I don't think this one is super noteworthy or stands out to me. It's not bad but it won't leave a lasting impression on me. it seems like a strange inclusion on this list.

Not impressed at all. Why would I NEED to hear this?

This feels far too niche to be on the 1001 albums you must listen to before you die. It’s not bad, but it certainly isn’t amazing. There are a few good tracks, but it’s subpar all in all.

Strong 4 to Light 5. I enjoyed: some of the more synth-heavy parts and the blending of folk and electronic, and when it gets more scattered. Finished on a strong note with the last 2 songs. I disliked: VOCALS GOD THEY ARE SO MEDIOCRE! Pretty weak songwriting at times so much meandering. Felt like a slog at a lot of points. It all felt so artistically safe, and unoriginal. Felt dan deaconish and was too Stereolab Something that wine moms call experimental. This is just wine mom music for the most part. I hope the next album is better.

i hadn’t even heard of jane weaver and i have a feeling this is my new obsession

This was a very pleasant listen, and something totally new to me. On the first listen, I thought it was good...but I warmed up to it even more on the second.

How have I never heard of Jane Weaver? 3 tracks in, this is RIGHT up my alley. It appears as though Modern Kosmology isn't even one of her bigger releases, it gets only a sentence in her (admittedly sparse) wiki bio. I'll definitely take a deeper dive.

bit of a manc legend is Jane. this album is probably her best offering in about 20 years of releasing music and its genuinely good. i'd like to think if the list has dipped its toes into the modern psych scene that it might hit us with one of the behemoths from the scene like BJM or King gizz but something tells me this will be it.

yeah this album was WHACK. it was so dope. it reminded me of synth pop acts like US girls or the knife. i listened to this album like 7 times. i just loved it.

This album is REALLY good. I hadn't heard of Jane Weaver before and I'm surprised she isn't more known. This album is such a groove. 100% relistening. Favorite Tracks: Did You See Butterflies? and The Architect

We're on our way to dust. 🤘😔

Wow.... I fucking love this..

the transitionssssssssss. everything is so interesting. Did you see butterflies is phenomenal. Love the jazz that happens in the title track.

Really loved this! Found a new artist to dig into.

really enjoyed this and will listen more

finally MODERN, not too shabby

Almost dreamy-sort of music. Her voice is fantastic.

I had never heard of Jane Weaver previously. The album has a psychedelic, an electronic and pop feeI. There is not many recent albums that are psychedelic and electronic. Overall it is uninspiring and leaves really no impression. I have no need to ever listen to it again.

Why this album is on this list? Why?

probably one of the more obscure albums on this collection. this album doesn't even have a wikipedia article about it. i've never heard a sound quite like this before. mind-bending and cosmic, this album evenly blends pop, electronic, new wave rock, and something else entirely. if you enjoy the likes of beck and gorillaz, you'll initially be put off by its slightly strange sound, but you'll end up loving it so much by the second or third track. this album was made for me. even if you don't end up liking it, at least i do! it's groovy.

Has Stereolab/Broadcast similarities. Motorik drums, synths, psych-y with airy vocals

This is the hundred fourth album I’m rating. The first album without a dedicated Wikipedia page. Adding to my Playlist - H>A>K, Did You See Butterflies?, Modern Kosmology, Slow Motion, Loops in the Secret Society, The Architect, The Lightning Back, Valley, Ravenspoint, and I Wish. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 10/10 songs. Pretty cool and pretty obscure. Jane Weaver should be more popular.

Albums like this are why I love this exercise so much. Never heard of this artist or project before in my life...the Wiki about it is something I'd typically loathe...and yet this is wonderful. Using electronic effects as an enhancement to instrumentation rather than a replacement for it is how it should always be used for me.

Great album. Going to check out more work by this artist

AN AMAZING PSYCH ELECTRO INDIE EXPERIENCE

what an absolute delight of an album to have discovered! i absolutely love this! it has such a nice feel and flow to it, very much a full album listen experience that i love. the second and third track are my favourites. the title track has a beat and feel to it that reminds me of radiohead, which is one of my fave bands of all time.

blown away by this one, there's a lot of really cool sonic ideas here

I think people are hating on this unfairly. Yes it's similar to lots of other things, but, it's the only thing I've heard recently that's doing this. It was a great listening experience and the vocals are not as bad as people say.

Loved it, great discovery. If you like this, try Gwenno (Welsh language) or Cate LeBon.

Brilliant

Dreamy whispy vocals overlaying tasty electronic beats - great find!!

I really liked this whole album; the compositions, beats, lyrics, vocals...the whole thing was just cohesive and enticing. Lots of beauty here.

A lovely blend of psychedelic/folk/dream pop within a pulsing electronic framework that is reminiscent of Portishead's Third LP. Spotify has been teasing me with a few Jane Weaver songs over the last few years and, while they usually ended up on my "liked" list, I didn't bother exploring the LPs. My bad. She hits it out of the park with the title track, "Did you see butterflies " and "Architect" and a number of other tracks are strong. At times the synths sound ancient and to build on that she brings in an ancient CAN vocalist for one song. Jane Weaver was nearly 50 when this was released and had been performing for 25 years, yet she still innovates & sounds fresh (to my old ears anyway).

One of those albums you really need to hear through a good pair of headphones. Her vocals have a crystalline quality and give the impression of someone singing in a cathedral. This is over music that tends to float between the motorik realms of Cluster or Garmonia and the more pop oriented Curve and Stereolab. A very happy discovery.

I’ve never heard of Jane Weaver before but the music gives me a Stereolab vibe, a group I really love. There are vocal journeys at times evocative of Kate Bush. The songs are tightly crafted - quite a feat for such open, ethereal soundscapes. I absolutely love this - what a phenomenal album!

I’ve never heard of this album or Jane Weaver. After listening to it, I want to delve more into her discography. I like the electronic dreamy vibe. I like the guitar drum bass. Her voice is great. This album pleasantly surprised me.

10/10 I don’t even know what to say it’s just fun, weird alternative music what’s not to love?

Excellent album!

I consider myself lucky for receiving this recommendation today. I didn’t have any idea of who Jane Weaver was… but her work enlightened my mood from second one. Modern Kosmology is a truly gem. I loved Jane voice harmonies and delivery. The rhythm section was exquisite, and what to say about the sequencing? To me, Jane is the perfect blending between Blonde Redhead and Janelle Monae. Fantastic!

Surprised I have never heard of her. Really amazing psychedelic rock/pop/alternative. Gives me tame impala vibes. Very well put together album with no fat. Every song fits the theme. Hypnotic vocals that sound like she is in a glass bottle, trance instrumentals, haunting features.

Digging the vocals and the synths. Very good music to get lost in. Very Stereolab-y. Pretty harmonies and backing vocals.

Excellent album. Would definitely re listen and look into more of her work.

Lots of good driving beats and atmospheric sounds.

Spacey and ethereal very nice

This sounds timeless and almost mystical. It puts you in a trance. I like it, it's a hidden gem.

Excellent album listen. Notes of Kraftwerk. Wonderful flow. Such a pleasant find.

Wow, this album picked me up by the ears and knocked me around on a fun, wild, whimsical adventure. Hadn't heard much of Jane Weaver, but what a find!

I absolutely love it, I never heard anything of this style before.

Definitely something I will listen to again. She’s got a beautiful voice, you can have this in the background but also really focus on it. It can put you in a trance but not to sleep or make you drowsy. A nice surprise

I have a soft spot for Ethereal femme voices like this one, and the production felt post-apocalyptic in a great way.

I've never heard of this artist, I don't really know what this is, and I don't understand why it's in the book. It's fantastic. Will definitely look for a copy.

I have never heard of this artist but I thoroughly enjoyed her work. This came directly after Air's Moon Safari so I was definitely in the right head space for this album. Great stuff.

Really enjoyed this album. Perfect morning work listen. Will definitely check out more of her work.

One likes this quite a bit, but maybe overindexing on something relatively new and fresh after so much that felt old and (to be honest) stale. Though this one starts to feel a bit fabricated toward the back. One feels inspired to hear more of her catalog, as this is quite strong – driving, different and interesting – overall.

Another new one for me, although when I saw the album art I would have sworn I’d heard it before. It doesn’t ring a bell though. On first listen I dig it. I really like the middle of the album with Loops in the Secret Society and especially The Architect. The latter reminds me a lot of a really great song by the band Spoon, “Outlier”. I think it’s cool that the 1001 Albums list contains a few obscure and scantly listened to artists and albums (Jane had 57K monthly listens at the time of this review). I do wonder about the criteria for inclusion and whether a larger social impact has any weight in including an album - at that listen rate I’d imagine few people participating in this have heard of her. It is a neat way for artists to get some exposure and recognition. I gave it a second and third spin and I really like the album. It’s accessible on first listen but also a grower and an excellent melting pot of influences.

i thought this was really cool, one of my favorite new things from this list

Very surprised to see Jane Weaver on this list. She’s not a particularly big deal even in the UK - I saw her play a modest billing to a modest crowd at a small festival this year. Still, this ain't a popularity contest, and I can report that the motorik rhythms and airy melodies on this album provided a soothing soundtrack to an overcast train journey to Crewe. Scores low on the ‘must-hear’ scale but reasonably well on the ‘nice to listen to’ scale.

Nice vocals. Interesting composition. Feels very current for indy. I like some music like this, Alvvays, men I trust, etc. I don't find this exemplary although all the pieces are well done in their own right.

This was a breath of fresh air - something more upbeat after a long string of either down-tempo or down-vibe albums. More modern than I'd had in a while too. I'd never heard of the artist before but really enjoyed the album. Nothing especially stood out, but I could go back for more

Difficult to pin down a review for this one. Twinkly, ethereal, shallow… I feel nothing.

Nr. 178/1001 H>A>K 3/5 Did You See Butterflies? 4/5 Modern Kosmology 4/5 Slow Motion 5/5 Loops in the Secret Society 3/5 The Architect 3/5 The Lightning Back 3/5 Valley 4/5 Ravenspoint 2/5 I Wish 3/5 Average: 3,4 Etheral and mystical sounding pop album. Had some cool songs in the first half, fell a bit off towards the second half. Still an interesting listen.

Nothing about this strikes me as radically original, but I enjoy it. Good songwriting and sense of harmony. I got bored though.

I liked some of the songs on here. It was more to my younger taste than my current taste. But I’m glad to have discovered this artist and this album. I’d never heard of either before.

Never heard of this before. I dig its folky and easy-going charm. Has a bit of an ethereal, spaced-out mood throughout. Nice one to drift off and chill out to.

It seems like psychedelic rock is always lauded on release post 2000s. Yet not many stand the test of time. Nothing of interest here.

Eh, good not great. It sounds like it's trying to stand out and trying to blend in at the same time and I don't think it works all that well at either. Well-made, just uninteresting. I liked Did You See Butterflies and Modern Kosmology.

Another artist and album I was completely unfamiliar with. I think this album starts off really good with the first three songs being highlights. Unfortunately, after that it doesn’t really hold my attention as well. The vocals are good, but the instrumentals are not super adventurous. The intro to Valley reminds me of Telephone Line by ELO. Favorite songs were H>A>K and Modern Kosmology.

I am so confused as to why this is on the list. 4/10

I don’t get the inclusion on the list here. Very derivative and not really unique in any way. Compared to others on this list I’d say this has gotta be in the bottom .1%. Confused.

The most generic indie pop I’ve ever heard. Who in their right mind puts this on the list?

I'd not heard of Jane Weaver before this, but I won't forget her now that I've heard this album. I loved everything about this and I'm happy to have a new artist to listen to. Favorite track is Did You See Butterflies?

So lovely. I want all the songs on all my playlists

Kind of a weird psychedelic indie rock album. I really like that kind of music though.

Like the Cranberries but better!

and so this last hundred ends 3 for 3 with shit ive never heard of in my life ghjsdg. this is awsom tho, prob my fave of them as long as im arbitrarily grouping them together. calls on a lot of traditions (art pop, neopsych, space rock, krautrock) but honestly i dont think ive ever heard something at quite this intersection or with quite this effect...honestly it doesnt feel overly indebted to the past at all, it feels very naturally and earnestly created...kind of timeless. and just absurdly great songs front to back imo,,,and many different Sound Itches being scratched from blips to bubbles to hazes and anything else u can get out of a synth arpeggio. lovely work!!

Okay so I’ll admit this album had a leg up on me from the get go because there was a Jill Weaver who I went to middle school with and was a total babe and we were boyfriend girlfriend for almost a whole week and I almost saw her boobies once so I of course thought of better times when I pulled this up, but it’s legitimately great!!

SO GOOD

The future of Velvet Underground.

Really cool album. Lots of psychedelic sounds, lots of songs very drone-y with cool swirling sounds throughout moved along by beats and bass lines. Lovely vocals, amazing production, very rewarding listening on headphones. Not catchy at all but will definitely reward in repeated listens.

Wow, I really enjoyed this. Dreamy vocals and rock-solid instrumentation that delivers a modern bedroom/indie pop-meets-psychedelic listening experience.

amazing albu, Karen O is an artistic genius

I’ve never heard of this person before and I REALLY LOVED THIS!! Added to my library. Great mix of acoustic and electronics in this.

en koskaan kyllästynyt kuunnellessani tätä musiikkia. musiikki soi kauniisti, kokoajan, kuulokkeet korvillani.

This was a very pleasant surprise. I normally prefer more full aggressive sounds but this was a treat. It was like listening to delicate clockwork, every element ticking a long right where it needed to be.

Finally, something brilliant.

How have I not heard of Jane Weaver?! How is she not more popular?! This is such a solid album from beginning to end. Sounds like one thing and was a great listen.

Like pure, ice cold water for my soul today. A marvelous blend of synths, deep rythmns, modern rock influence and pure artistic creativity. Mellow and clear vocals allow all elements of the music to fall into place and build this almost expansive universe of music. There is practically no empty space on this album. Even the down tempo sections groove and move the soul. I liken this album to mid era pink floyd. Genre blending mastery prior to their anthemic politically conscious music. Just plain good music, with production mastery. And pink was analog, this is digitized.

This is excellent! I've not heard of her, initially I was thinking of Jackie Weaver of the Handforth parish council, I'm so glad it wasn't her. It reminded me of Lush/ Stereolab/ Velvet Underground all mixed together in a minimalist droning way. There wasn't a bad track on this and I shall have a listen to her back catalogue.

This album was a pleasant surprise. Never heard of Jane Weaver before but the motorik beats pulled me in. Thoroughly enjoyable.