Legendary music producer and recording artist SOPHIE‘s posthumous album has been released following the musician’s tragic passing in 2021. The record is composed of 16 tracks and stacked with featured artists who serve as the vocals atop of SOPHIE’s distinctive sound – a unique blend of bright, bubbly pop and chaotic, mechanical distortion. The self-titled album is a hauntingly beautiful parting gift from the icon credited with pioneering the microgenre of hyperpop, and her family who finalised the production of the album to honour her memory, a labour of love that has taken three years to complete.
SOPHIE’s music is woven together by pulsing, syncopated beats that power through each song, creating a cohesive body of work. Her lyrics convey a range of moods, as euphoric dancefloor hits like ‘One More Time (feat. Popstar)’ seamlessly transition into the emotionally-charged ‘Exhilarate’ (feat. Bibi Bourelly). This vibrant record is a worthy addition to her catalogue, as her and her collaborators build upon the experimental sound design of her debut album, OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES.
The album opens with four minutes of spooky instrumentals, on the aptly titled ‘Intro (The Full Horror)’, the only track on SOPHIE without a contributing vocalist. The low pitch works to build suspense before we’re struck with the club anthem ‘Rawwwwww (feat. Jozzy)’, a whiplash moment that echoes the bold, genre-defying energy of her first album.
Nina Kraviz‘s seven minute stream of consciousness, ‘The Dome’s Protection’, stands out on the album as the combination of slow, spoken word and electronic pop. Both styles work together to create a piece that can only be described as futuristic – entirely fitting for an artist like SOPHIE, whose legacy as a visionary continues to influence the musical landscape. The track compels the listener into a meditative state as Kraviz repeats her hypnotic lines, convincing you that “You are entering the dome’s protection once again”.
But the pinnacle of the record is undoubtedly its first single, the catchy pop hit ‘Reason Why (feat. Kim Petras & BC Kingdom)’. The layering of Petras’ and Kingdom’s vocals create a track that is utterly transcendent – and as dreamy as it is infectious – as two contrasting vocal pitches harmonise together over a synthetic beat. Once again, SOPHIE has proven her skill as an avant-garde artist as she masterfully fuses experimentalism in texturing with classic dance pop.
All in all, SOPHIE is a magical ode to a legend lost too soon, perfected by those who loved her the most. This album sweeps us into her fantastical realm for an hour and seven minutes, offering us some solace amid her absence. The listening experience is nothing short of ethereal, as we are enveloped in the album’s dynamic soundscape, decorated with heartfelt lyrics. This final album stands as a beautiful tribute to her legacy, reminding us of SOPHIE’s unrivalled impact on the music scene.
Words by Zahra Hanif
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