Zero 7加Robin Guthrie.
友人说的：
Sophie Barker 是 Zero 7 乐队的女歌手之一，《Earthbound》是她在 2005 年发行的最新个人专辑，其中大部分歌曲的创作和制作都是由 Cocteau Twins 乐队的成员之一 Robin Guthrie 完成的，而 Sophie Barker 本人作为 Zero 7 部分歌曲的词作者，也为自己的这张专辑创作了一些歌词。
专辑中的歌曲有不少 Cocteau Twins 的影子，尤其在吉他演奏方面，不过 Sophie Barker 本人的吉他演奏就比较偏向民谣了，那种木吉他的拨弦声听起来非常安静，更称托出 Sophie Barker 温暖和柔和的歌声，呢喃式的演唱很容易让听者陶醉其中。
Sophie Barker ------ Vocals, Acoustic Guitars
Robin Guthrie ------ Guitars, Keyboards
Bennet ------ Violin
Robin Guthrie, Lem Lattimer ------ Producers
Album Review from "www.MusicalDiscoveries.com"
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Earthbound (Emperor (UK) EMPCD001, 2005) is the new eight-track solo album from enchanting singer-songwriter Sophie Barker. Widely known as one of the featured vocalists for chillout act Zero 7, and as the primary vocalist for the world/ambient project "Bliss," Sophie has teamed up with Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins fame and Violet Indiana for her debut. The result is a beautifully refreshing album that showcase Sophie's luminous and heartfelt voice.
The songs on Earthbound remain generally grounded in a shimmering realm of effect-washed acoustic guitars and draw favorable comparisons to artists like "A Girl Called Eddy" and "Trespassers William." Without question, Ms. Barker's voice and lyrics weave a strong spell of passion, contemplation, and intimacy. From the opening verse of "Secret," Sophie's voice captures the attention of the listener with its fluid and pure tone. Strumming guitar and romantic violin join the vocals resulting in a haunting and elegant marriage of sounds and timbres. "Stop Me" will very much please fans of Cocteau Twins or Love Spirals Downwards. Robin Guthrie's unique and instantly recognizable "sound" is imprinted on the instrumentation. The melody is thoroughly tender and warm and Sophie's lovely voice is matched by Robin's superb guitar work.
"Dreamlife" is a quiet and dreamy acoustic number that makes the most of Sophie's wistful vocals and sparse instrumentation. When music can be this stripped-down and still sound this gorgeous, the appreciation for the artist only increases. Such is the case with Sophie Barker. "Wintertime" is one of those tracks that is so pleasurable to listen to and so lacking in pretension and contrivance that it actually puts a smile on your face. "On My Way Home" may be the best track on the album; in fact, it may be one of the best modern folk songs written in the last decade. Lyrically, Sophie has captured the poignancy of a return journey to a place of long-lost familiarity--and her voice is so perfectly poised that it creates an ache inside.
"Start Me" cascades in Twin Peaks-flavored waves that would make David Lynch proud. Slightly jazzy and off-kilter, one can almost imagine Sophie crooning this tune in a dark cabaret club situated in a medieval european town. "Angel" continues the sojourn into a wonderfully darker musical world. With strange whirring beat and bell tones, Sophie sings about the intervention of angels in her life. The closing track, "Stumble" ends the album on a bit more positive and hopeful note reminiscent of Dar Williams or Heather Nova.
Sophie Barker has created an album that must surely rank as one of the best of the year. What is most impressive about her work is the effortless quality of her singing and the perfect blend of acoustic instrumentation which allows Sophie's radiant and unobstructed voice to remain the focal point of the album. Here's hoping that Sophie Barker has many more songs inside and that she will share them with world.
~ Reviewed by Justin Elswick in Provo, Utah and Russ Elliot in New York
Sophie Barker 是 Zero 7 乐队的女歌手之一，《Earthbound》是她在 2005 年发行的最新个人专辑，其中大部分歌曲的创作和制作都是由 Cocteau Twins 乐队的成员之一 Robin Guthrie 完成的，而 Sophie Barker 本人作为 Zero 7 部分歌曲的词作者，也为自己的这张专辑创作了一些歌词。
专辑中的歌曲有不少 Cocteau Twins 的影子，尤其在吉他演奏方面，不过 Sophie Barker 本人的吉他演奏就比较偏向民谣了，那种木吉他的拨弦声听起来非常安静，更称托出 Sophie Barker 温暖和柔和的歌声，呢喃式的演唱很容易让听者陶醉其中。
Sophie Barker ------ Vocals, Acoustic Guitars
Robin Guthrie ------ Guitars, Keyboards
Bennet ------ Violin
Robin Guthrie, Lem Lattimer ------ Producers
Album Review from "www.MusicalDiscoveries.com"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earthbound (Emperor (UK) EMPCD001, 2005) is the new eight-track solo album from enchanting singer-songwriter Sophie Barker. Widely known as one of the featured vocalists for chillout act Zero 7, and as the primary vocalist for the world/ambient project "Bliss," Sophie has teamed up with Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins fame and Violet Indiana for her debut. The result is a beautifully refreshing album that showcase Sophie's luminous and heartfelt voice.
The songs on Earthbound remain generally grounded in a shimmering realm of effect-washed acoustic guitars and draw favorable comparisons to artists like "A Girl Called Eddy" and "Trespassers William." Without question, Ms. Barker's voice and lyrics weave a strong spell of passion, contemplation, and intimacy. From the opening verse of "Secret," Sophie's voice captures the attention of the listener with its fluid and pure tone. Strumming guitar and romantic violin join the vocals resulting in a haunting and elegant marriage of sounds and timbres. "Stop Me" will very much please fans of Cocteau Twins or Love Spirals Downwards. Robin Guthrie's unique and instantly recognizable "sound" is imprinted on the instrumentation. The melody is thoroughly tender and warm and Sophie's lovely voice is matched by Robin's superb guitar work.
"Dreamlife" is a quiet and dreamy acoustic number that makes the most of Sophie's wistful vocals and sparse instrumentation. When music can be this stripped-down and still sound this gorgeous, the appreciation for the artist only increases. Such is the case with Sophie Barker. "Wintertime" is one of those tracks that is so pleasurable to listen to and so lacking in pretension and contrivance that it actually puts a smile on your face. "On My Way Home" may be the best track on the album; in fact, it may be one of the best modern folk songs written in the last decade. Lyrically, Sophie has captured the poignancy of a return journey to a place of long-lost familiarity--and her voice is so perfectly poised that it creates an ache inside.
"Start Me" cascades in Twin Peaks-flavored waves that would make David Lynch proud. Slightly jazzy and off-kilter, one can almost imagine Sophie crooning this tune in a dark cabaret club situated in a medieval european town. "Angel" continues the sojourn into a wonderfully darker musical world. With strange whirring beat and bell tones, Sophie sings about the intervention of angels in her life. The closing track, "Stumble" ends the album on a bit more positive and hopeful note reminiscent of Dar Williams or Heather Nova.
Sophie Barker has created an album that must surely rank as one of the best of the year. What is most impressive about her work is the effortless quality of her singing and the perfect blend of acoustic instrumentation which allows Sophie's radiant and unobstructed voice to remain the focal point of the album. Here's hoping that Sophie Barker has many more songs inside and that she will share them with world.
~ Reviewed by Justin Elswick in Provo, Utah and Russ Elliot in New York
