VIA PRESS RELEASE | Jane Weaver’s illustrious career has produced an expansive library of music that has seen her journey through solo folkloric and pop-leaning beginnings through to the psychedelic synth-pop explorations of today. Celebrating her pioneering vision, Fire Records will be deep diving into her early catalogue with a new reissue series set for release in 2026.
On its 15th Anniversary, we revisit The Fallen By Watch Bird with a special expanded edition double vinyl release that will include “The Watchbird Alluminate”—featuring Demdike Stare, The Focus Group, Anworth Kirk, and Samandtheplants. The album will be performed for the first time in its entirety by Jane and the sonic sisterhood group of Septieme Soeur, including harpist Serafina Steer (Bas Jan), guitarist and singer Emma Tricca, Welsh folk artist Lisa Jen (9Bach), and guitarist Joel Nicholson (Jane Weaver Band), with accompanying storybook visuals and film.
A formative masterpiece from her ever-growing discography, The Fallen By Watch Bird is a tapestry of psychedelic femme-folk-rock drawing influences from Eastern European children’s cinema, Germanic kunstmärchen, ’70s television music, and ’80s electronic scores. Steeped in synths and mysticism, the fully realised conceptual record weaves imagery of absent sailors, telekinesis, bird messengers, and white witchcraft alongside pagan themes of death and rebirth.
Presented across seven chapters it features performances from Septieme Soeur Wendy Flower of Wendy & Bonnie folk pop duo who released 1969’s Genesis, Lisa Jen Welsh, vocalist on Gruff Rhys’ Candylion, lost American folk-pop singer Susan Christie, and Bosnian folk music singer and violinist Behar.
Accompanying vinyl, The Watchbird Alluminate continues with a sense of wonderment through explorations into drone, psychedelia, folk, and shapeshifting soundscapes. Inspired by post-war cinematic interpretations and the traditions of chronicling folk stories, Weaver reimagines the original release with spoken word narrative from Susan Christie reinterpreted by Ghostbox’s Focus Group; elsewhere Bird label artists Emma Tricca and falsetto soloist Magpahi offer their own interpretations.
The release evokes David Lynch’s Twin Peaks on “Whispers of Winter” with Wendy Flower alongside alluring vocal moments reminiscent of Vashti Bunyan (“Turning In Circles” ft. Emma Tricca) and Kate Bush (“My Soul Was Lost & No one Saved Me” ft. Magpahi).
