I came across the music of Sophie via her alter ego of "Balls" in the duo "Rocky and Balls". Since then I've become a real fan and have bought both her solo albums. Her latest album "The Rhythm You Started" is a jewel and I recommend it to everyone. Incidentally, the other half of Rocky and Balls (Hannah Rockliffe) appears on my blog under her stage name "Hannah-Rei".
What is there to say about Sophie that hasn't already been said? She has a voice like a spring morning, full of sunshine, happiness and beauty, even when she's singing some of her sadly bitter-sweet love songs her voice makes you smile.
Her first album "Love. Life. Ukulele" contains some of the most poignant and yet alluring love songs I've ever heard. It's hard to listen to the album and not fall in love with Sophie "Who Will Buy", "One Kiss Too Many", "Wave Goodbye" and "You Are My Favourite" are tracks which deserve much wider acclaim and recognition. There are just too many good tracks on this album that it's hard not to recommend them all as truly great songs.
Her second album "The Rhythm You Started" is a different album altogether from the first but just as wonderful. The two opening tracks are "Stars and "The Rhythm You Started". Both go back to Sophie's "ukulele roots" but a with a much more polished and maturing mix. The lyrics and vocals are up there with the best and can only be described as exquisite. I defy you not to sing along with Track 3 "Little One" The poetical "Song To Fall in Love To" slows things down a little before the wonderful "Oil & Gold" hides its deeper meaning in a jaunty tempo. The beautiful "Battles" is another song that instantly plucks those heartstrings so it's with a touch of releif that is followed by the bossanova-like "Butterfly Child" and the cleverly written "Change the Numbers" - another sing-along... The final two tracks "Come Follow Me" and "Hypothetically Yours" (which I keep humming as I drive for some reason) do nothing to keep this album being an amazing listening experience.
I keep wanting to use the word "haunting" but that's not the right word, Sophie's music is the kind of music that eases gently into your soul and becomes part of you, it doesn't haunt, it forms a relationship with you that lingers...
But don't take my word for it - watch the videos below, fall in love yourselves and buy the CDs...
"Who Will Buy", "One Kiss Too Many", "Wave Goodbye" and "You Are My Favourite" are tracks which deserve much wider acclaim and recognition. There are just too many good tracks on this album that it's hard not to recommend them all as truly great songs.
The poetical "Song To Fall in Love To" slows things down a little before the wonderful "Oil & Gold" hides its deeper meaning in a jaunty tempo. The beautiful "Battles" is another song that instantly plucks those heartstrings so it's with a touch of releif that is followed by the bossanova-like "Butterfly Child" and the cleverly written "Change the Numbers" - another sing-along... The final two tracks "Come Follow Me" and "Hypothetically Yours" (which I keep humming as I drive for some reason) do nothing to keep this album being an amazing listening experience.