Sophia
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I write Sophia and immediately I add God Machine and Robin Proper-Sheppard; three names indissolubly linked forever and always. The God Machine were, for yours truly, one of the most important bands of the nineties, lasting only half a decade and authors of two monumental albums to say the least.

With the tragic end of the God Machine adventure, Robin decided to start again with a new band. This is a compilation released in 2004, composed mostly of unreleased material. And it has one single flaw: it only lasts just over thirty minutes, too little for someone like me who loved the God Machine and then continued in the same way with Sophia.

A flower fills the cover image; an evident reference to the band's debut, that "Fixed Water" released in 1996, which also featured something vegetal on the cover. The instrumental "Airports" has the honor of opening the album brilliantly: delicate electronic noises introduce the repeated sound of a keyboard, immediately offering that enveloping sensation of warmth that this sublime music has the power to exert. But at the same time, feelings of sadness and melancholy emerge; sentiments that will never leave Robin after what he had to endure in the past.

We are at the second track "Easy (If You Want Me)" and finally the voice arrives, that so recognizable voice. This time a trumpet introduces a simple guitar riff, then it's Robin's turn "If you want me well come and get me, I'm probably easier than think" with his beautiful clear and melancholic tone. It is clear that Robin wants to sing just for you, anyway always towards a smaller audience.

The whole work develops in the same way, with the acoustic component predominant as it has always been throughout the band's career. A small and wonderful jewel; simply at this point, to give consistency to my previous thought, I recommend listening to the Pet Shop Boys cover "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk", with that female voice that is pure enchantment.

A great listen for a Gentleman album; and I wait hopefully for a discographic return of Sophia, now over six years since their last discographic birth.

To you who already knows all this.

Ad Maiora.