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SOPHIA I had a choice tonight. Envy, an apocalyptic Japanese post-rock ensemble or Sophia the downbeat, melancholic guitar band of ex-God Machine frontman Robin Proper-Sheppard. I'm really glad I chose the latter - no amount of screaming and tortured-guitar histrionics would have been able to compete with the emotional intensity of the 15 songs Sophia play tonight. Probably everyone present tonight knows of the trauma that befell The God Machine and the subsequent break up, and it is undoubtedly this bad fortune that lends much of the gravitas to Sophia's music. 1997's "Fixed Water", the first release following the death of Robin's friend and God Machine bass player, Jimmy Hernandez, set out the blueprint of repeated vocal refrains and delicate guitar rock. Every subsequent record has buit on this sound culminating in the recent "People Are Like Seasons", possibly the most rounded release so far. But tonight they go back to that first album, opening with "So Slow", the first Sophia song, written in the months immediately after the demise of the God Machine. It's country-tinged, acoustic guitar and piano melancholia sets the tone for the first part of the set, and during the next few songs it becomes increasingly apparent just what a stroke of genius it is including Adam Franklin in the band's line-up. The ex-Swervedriver frontman's lead guitar adds a rich, warm layer under which the songs luxuriate. "Desert Song 2", a nod to the original God Machine song and the most epic on the new album, is the first track tonight that showcases Sophia's tougher edges. It builds from a gentle start, at times just vocals and piano, until, with Robin singing "Just let yousrelf go..." the swelling tide of guitars breaks. Then, a beautiful, hypnotic piano and strummed acoustic guitar begin the second build towards a massive climax of heavy, churning riffs. It's stunning. Whilst not the most dynamic frontman Robin Proper-Sheppard effortlessly captivates, his voice and lyrics complementing the music brilliantly, his onstage demeanour intense, yet inclusive. It's the honest, emotional content of Sophia's songs that enable the audience to connect. "I know you want The River song, but I'm not playing it" RPS jokes at the beginning of the encore, before playing the gorgeous "I Left You". Tonight is the first time I've heard the epic "The River Song" and as it begins it's obviously an audience favourite. From and acoustic into, It grows and grows until with three guitars churning away, one being played with a violin bow, it collapses and we are plunged into silence. Immediately, they charge into straightforward rocker "If A Change Is Gonna Come" with it's distorted, screamy vocals and superfuzzed guitars testing the PA to it's limit. It's not a subtle track and perhaps not the best to end on, but it proves that Sophia can do the punky/rock thing as well as anyone else. RPS has come along way since the God Machine, both emotionally and musically. I suspect it's because of this journey that Sophia is far and away the superior band - I never thought I'd say that. SET LIST:So Slow, Are You Happy Now, If Only, Fool, Swept Back, Desert Song 2, Every Day, Oh My Love, Within Without, Woman, The Sea, Ship In The Sand. ENCORE : I Left You, River Song, If A Change Is Gonna Come Watch a clip of Desert Song 2 from Dutch TVRichy [ March 31st, 2004 ] |