Jane Vain and the Dark Matter

Move over, Emily Haines, you’re going to have to share the heartbreak spotlight with someone who could very well be the next Canadian indie pop darling. Meet Jamie Fooks, vocalist and songwriter for Jane Vain and the Dark Matter, whose finely crafted debut should gain them country-wide notoriety. It turns out that self-imposed seclusion in a basement has paid off for Fooks; it was in this setting that she was able to give voice to her lovelorn angst. Here are ten pop songs, dark though they may be, full of smart songwriting, beautifully arranged and produced. That the album is loaded with mile-high hooks isn’t especially remarkable — there’s plenty of unremarkable hooky music out there. What’s different here is the attention to detail and the texture, demonstrated by the subtle strings on the anthemic "I’m So Afraid” and the tasteful electro beats bubbling just under the surface of these songs. Love is Where The Smoke Is certainly isn’t pushing musical boundaries but it’s a confident statement that will find many a loving home.