Genre: Gothic / Darkwave
01 More
02 Fifty Four
03 A Crack In The Sky
04 A New Life Story
05 Orchidea
06 Third Wish - Part I
07 Faith
08 Transmission
09 Stare
10 To Tears And Flowers
11 Sixteen Rings (For A Memory)
12 Third Wish - Part II
13 To Tears And Flowers (Remix By Tejo Bolten Of Mecano)
I'm sure the connection Netherlands and Gothic rings certain bells. The well known label 4AD had one of the most beautiful bands ever from my little country. The band I'm referring to is of course Clan Of Xymox. Now, the main man of Clan Of Xymox (I learned the hard way not to shorten that to CoX...), Ronny Moorings, contracted Sophya after he heard them after they moved from Israel to Netherlands in 1999. In 2000 the CD The Age Of Sophy was released through Pandaimonium Records in Europe, and on Metropolis in the USA. In 2003 the second CD, Dream, was released, received praise from critics and fans. Now there's the third release, called Third Wish.
The album starts of with two beautiful songs with Sonja on vocals. Her voice and lyrics are truly captivating. The melodies are really catching. This is the kind darkwave you want to hear on a goth party to dance to. Sure, EBM and stuff is easier to dance to, but this is the real stuff. The first two songs are very critical concerning the society. 'More' goes on about how everyone and everything always has to be better and better and better. Everyone has to be more mature and there is no more individuality. 'Fifty Four' goes about fighting fears and seeing the wider perspective. "The world makes no sense, but I fear it no more" is a part of the lyrics. I wish I could say that. If songs easily move you, this song surely will. It's very emotional.
'A Crack In The Sky' is sung by Idan, who is also responsible for most of the music. This is a depressing song, but very beautiful. I'm just wondering why the lyrics aren't in the booklet. All the lyrics are in the booklet, except from this song. 'Orchidea' is the next song sung by a male, this time by a guest vocalist called Federico Caputo of Letatlin, and this one is sung in Italian. The language and the singer don't really matter to the music Sophya produces. It's all the good kind of music. Music that makes you want to dance, chill or just listen intensively.
The eight track, 'Transmission', might look familiar to some of you. This is a cover of Joy Division's version from the late 70's of the previous century. I can't compare the Sophya version with the original, as I haven't heard that one. But I can say that Sophya's version is really good. It's really intense, and heavier than their other songs.
With this album I renewed my hope in the Dutch gothic bands. Of course, we have Challenge Of Honour. And indeed, Angels And Agony are Dutch too. For sure, Embolus should be named. But that's all just different kinds of music. Let's hope Sophya still produces music over two decades after they started, just like Clan Of Xymox does.
