Sophia (British band)
Sophia is the band project around the singer, guitarist and producer Robin Proper - Sheppard.
- 2.1 Studio albums
- 2.2 Compilations and live albums
History
After the bassist Jimmy Fernandez his former band The God Machine had died and the band had dissolved, founded Proper - Sheppard after his own label " Flower Shop Recordings" the band "Sophia". However, it is more of a band project Proper - Sheppard's, that is tailored to his compositions. The first publications (Fixed Water, 1996, and The Infinite Circle, 1998) were recorded with other artists of the label " Flower Shop ". The current line is very much seen as a band collective, which includes a larger group of musicians.
The first two albums are characterized by a very reduced instrumentation and in the texts as expressed confrontation with death. The sometimes moody, sorrowful songs often find their gain in repetitive, simple choruses.
With the published in January 2004 plate People Are Like Seasons, the musical spectrum expanded then more toward The God Machine - but with noticeably less melancholy, without heavier guitars and some electronic details. The album also included again some mid-tempo rock songs. As an example here is the first piece of Oh My Love to call, which was the first single at the same time and in some countries has become a minor chart success. The band had signed with the Berlin-based label City Slang - the label released to date, the Sophia plates in Germany. It was followed by a tour in the first half of 2004, the band was also on the soundtrack of the award-winning documentary film world leader -. Involved the history of Tan Siekmann.
The end of 2005 it had almost come to the dissolution of the band, although already twenty songs for a new album were written, but drummer Jeff Townsin could Proper - Sheppard move to continue. In autumn 2006, then Sophia have released the fourth studio album titled Technology Will not Save Us. Proper - Sheppard has played up on the drums all the instruments himself, however, dominated as before, the acoustic guitar.
For instrumental opener and title track of the disk Robin Proper - Sheppard has been inspired by a failed rescue mission off the coast of Britain, in which a father was captured with his son in fog on a sandbar and the two perished in spite of a mobile phone connection with the nearby emergency services.
In spring 2007, Sophia went on a European tour in the summer followed by individual performances, including two festivals.
In 2009, her fifth studio album released entitled There Are No Goodbyes the band. Advance has presented the new songs on a small tour of six European cities Proper - Sheppard. He was accompanied by a string quartet. The limited special edition of the CD includes a second CD with the live recording of the concert, which has given on Valentine's Day in Vienna the band.
Robin Proper - Sheppard
Although Robin Proper - Sheppard is a U.S. citizen from San Diego but lives in London. He retires to compose sometimes back in more rural areas. He has a daughter named Hope. He listens to music by Neil Young, but also by Massive Attack.
The May Queens
The band performs a sort of parallel existence as The May Queens, under which they write plays and covers rock classic, but not officially occur. The name goes back, according to website of the band on the piece Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Some May Queens songs were played on Sophia concerts.
Discography
Studio albums
- Fixed Water (1996, Flower Shop Recordings)
- The Infinite Circle (1998, Flower Shop Recordings)
- People Are Like Seasons (2004, City Slang )
- There Are No Goodbyes (2009, Flower Shop Recordings)
Compilations and live albums
- Collection: One (2004, Flower Shop Recordings)