Following Janette King's career has been an intriguing affair; the Montreal artist weaves so many moods and genre-excursions into her hot-blooded R&B, but you never lose your footing thanks to her undeniable songwriting prowess and voice.
On her latest album, Incantation, she finally holds steady, exploring a comfortable variety of sounds that are so well crafted, with melodies so harmonious, that it's easily her best full body of work to date.
Intro track "Here" is a full bodied, synth-led funk fest where King's crystalline vocals shine through and announce a more accessible approach to her songwriting. The '80s aesthetics are undeniable on the quiet storm ballad "Taboo" and percussive "This Might Be It," but it's not all pastiche — the richly layered instrumental backing on "While You Were Sleeping" reveals a keen ear for subtlety and left-of-centre melody.
Janette has been getting busy with her band, and it shows — drum machine-heavy songs like "Paradise" contrast with the aforementioned songs, with subtle vocal superimpositions so reminiscent of '80s superstar Evelyn "Champagne" King that I was left wondering if the two are related.
After a heavy dose of funk, things simmer down with the pensive "People Say" and the weighty title track, which takes you down a spiritual path that King has accustomed us to over the years. The album closes on a more modern R&B tip, rounding things out nicely by bringing in the present. After so much throwback magic, the here-and-now suits her well.