Search - Sophia :: Technology Won't Save Us

City Lovelost

Tony Adams | Glasgow, Scotland | 08/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the Sophia albums this one bridges the gap between Robin Proper-Sheppard now and Robin Proper-Sheppard of The God Machine, his first band rendered defunct almost 14 years ago by the suicide of bassist Jimmy Fernandez. Where previous Sophia albums have relied on stark musings of death accompanied by Proper-Sheppards mournful strumming and sparse arrangements, this record follows on from what was suggested with 2004's People Are Like Seasons. Full band participation really fleshes out these songs of lost love, urban malaise and death, a theme Proper-Sheppard will probably always try to deal with. The guitars are louder, especially on the opening title track, the strings are prominent, the lovely Where Are You Now with it's repeated refrain sounding more and more desperate as the song builds and his voice has never sounded better. This is still quite "miserable" music albeit more dynamic than standard slo-core recording artists, however it's the kind of music that ultimately lifts you up instead of dragging you down."