“She takes her pop songs and stretches them into ’70s prog territory, with tasteful heaps of sonic decoration courtesy of producer Michael Philip Wojewoda, and a cast of Toronto all-stars” – Michael Barclay
Jennifer LFO is a true pop eclectic with a unique point of view. An engaging performer and an original voice – Jennifer has a knack for the melodic and the unpredictable.
Her latest album, Songs From the Alien Beacon, earned Canadian producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda a 2010 JUNO nomination for Producer of the Year. This wide-ranging collection of smart songs features a co-write with new-wave pioneer Carole Pope, and memorable performances from keyboardist Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies) and guitarist Martin Tielli (Rheostatics). The result is a dynamic album that fuses art-rock and pure pop.
On Songs From the Alien Beacon, Jennifer LFO (a.k.a. Jennifer Foster) muses on life from her home in downtown Toronto – the “alien beacon” being a pet name for the landmark wind-turbine that dominated the skyline. Many of these songs were penned while sitting on her factory building fire escape, in view of the smoke stacks and the “fake giant chicken bucket water tower”. Here she describes the human condition as life in a lonely laboratory (“In The Lab”); and passion as a liberating kind of drunkenness (“Two Stars”). She also describes what happens when a friendly relationship crosses the romantic line (“F*cking Up The Friendship); subverts California’s golden myth (“Palm Trees”); and delivers a tongue-in-cheek rant on women’s pop-culture stereotypes (“Down On My Knees,” co-written with Carole Pope).
Musically, Songs From the Alien Beacon is as stylistically diverse as the songs themselves dictate. Recorded in Wojewoda’s studio, he and Jennifer performed most of the instruments on the album. The rich production – which is full of instrumental textures, inspired sonic touches and distinctive vocal harmonies – came largely from the process, where any musical idea was fair game.
Jennifer has two previous solo albums under her belt – Fit For Mars, produced by David Garza, and Speedyhead, produced by Paul Myers and The Pursuit of Happiness frontman Moe Berg. As a singer and multi-instrumentalist Jennifer has lent her musical know-how to many on the Canadian music scene. She toured and recorded as a backup singer with TPOH, and has appeared on countless recordings including those by the Rheostatics, Ford Pier, Kevin Hearn and Thinbuckle, Melanie Doane, and Flash Lightnin’ to name a few. All along this versatile artist has worked extensively as a professional actor in film, television, radio and stage.
Jennifer has performed across Canada and into the States, and her music has been heard all over the Canadian airwaves. Her songs have been included in the soundracks to indie films “Black Swan”, and “The Disconnection of Cyrus Bent”, and earned her a place as a semi-finalist in the international Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. Recent projects include arranging for the ninety-voice Toronto Echo Women’s Choir, a song co-write with Ron Sexsmith, and frequent performances with her talented band featuring Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Ohbijou), Rob MacDonald (Dirt Farmer), Cheryl Reid (Ember Swift), and Linda Maruta.
