Sophia
As We Make Our Way (Unknown Harbours)

Dear my CANIDI,

It's been a while since our last written meeting; dark and difficult winter months, at least for me. Then suddenly, in the first days of April, I learned that one of the bands I have appreciated the most in the past twenty years is releasing a new record; I'm referring to Robin Proper-Sheppard's Sophia. A band born from the dramatic ashes of God Machine; chills just remembering the grandeur and greatness of the "God Machine's" very brief career.

But today I want to talk only and exclusively about Sophia, who return after an endless silence that lasted seven years. "There Are No Goodbyes" was the title of their previous work released in 2009. Only now does the title of the work translated into Italian make sense: "Non ci sono saluti" (There are no goodbyes). As if Robin already knew about the subsequent long silence, the forced detachment from the musical world; but now he is back, and I am more than happy about it.

He traveled a lot in these years, divided between Europe (now his second homeland as he has also obtained Belgian citizenship) and the United States where he returned after a long absence. With extreme calm, he set to work, writing a few dozen songs; I have always struggled immensely to give the right musical label to what Robin has written. I read a recent interview with him where he clarified things for me: he defines Sophia's music as a "countryfied" version of the Cure. That's perfectly fine.

The analysis of "As We Make Our Way (Unknown Harbours)" must start from its cover; from that illuminated and shiny anchor, in stark contrast to the rest of the cover immersed in deep black. It calls to mind the sea and its threatening vastness; but Robin has finally returned, concluding his wanderings. He has cast a bright anchor, even if for the moment the places of landing are unknown and insecure.

You know me and are well aware that I am obsessively attached to enjoying the music I love only through the purchase of the original record; unfortunately, my "pusher" has not been able to recover it yet; so I took the liberty of listening to only three tracks from the album: the first two and the last one, a song already released as a single a couple of years ago.

It is the very short instrumental "Unknown Harbours" that immediately gives me indescribable emotions; a repeated sound and a few keyboard notes. Of a simplicity and delicacy as only Robin has been able to deliver in his long career; two minutes that are already enough for me.
But it is the marine depth of "Resisting" that puts me with my back against the wall; and so I surrender at the first listening, with Robin's voice so particular, so unique. And the clear sensation that he's singing just for you appears in the distance, as it always happened with Sophia. Lightness and sadness: feelings that can never be set aside, listening to such emotional tracks. Mamma mia Robin, mamma mia CANIDI!!

I have almost concluded; I want to bid you goodbye with a quote from Robin, read online in recent weeks: "I'm 46 years old, I don't have a house, I don't have a car, I don't have a dog. I don't belong to anyone, I don't belong to any place. I have only my music."

I need nothing else... "It's easy to be lonely".

With esteem, DE

Dear DE,

I'm sorry to read that in your beloved Ossola the pushers are worth very little. Every place has its strengths and weaknesses. Give up the drugs and go for a walk in your beloved mountains. Choose a day of good weather, serene and bright. Walk, walk and aim high, to some alpine lake, sit and admire the landscape around you. You see, dear DE, in Brescia, we have the fortune (fortune?) of having careful and precise pushers but we lack the alpine amenities that surround your village.

I have the fortune (fortune!) however, to take refuge in listening to the latest from Sophia who transport me as if by magic to pure and hardly accessible places. They sound clear and crystalline like the transparent waters of the lake you will have in front of you, only a few fleeting melancholic clouds in the blue sky manage to overshadow their clarity. The Sophia will swell your heart, make you feel good, provide moments of unexpected optimism, and moments of romantic solitude.

Everything is perfect in their sound: the calm piano, Robyn's voice softer than in the old releases, the distinctly marked guitar notes, the ever well-calibrated and never excessive drums. "As We Make Our Way (Unknown Harbours)" entered my system and didn't leave me for 36 hours. I told myself enough, I couldn't risk ruining it. But tracks like "Resisting" or the choral "St. Tropez / The Hustle" will drive you crazy with pleasure. "You Say It's Alright" (my goodness how beautiful this piece is) is a full-lung dive into the wonderfully crafted 80s synth-rock. If you're not careful, you might take flight! And "California"? A perfect summery guitar-laden pop that could end straight into some radio playlist. You won't be surprised if I come to tell you that "Blame" and "Baby, Hold On" are the classic Robin Proper-Sheppard songs, intimate acoustic gems.

"It's Easy To Be Lonely" is the final piece that risks killing anyone, it's an emotional crescendo of guitar and strings that can easily bring you to tears (even two). But a tear to Robyn we are ready to give, am I wrong? You'll let me know if you will be struck by ecstasy or if you'll be captivated by admiration. Dear DE, do you know what I could do in the meantime? Maybe I'll listen to it again, trying to imagine the emotions that will assault you at first listening. They will only be beautiful things.

A big hug, CANIDI