This is the debut solo album from the former guitarist and vocalist with Brooklyn psych-pop bands Lights and Cliffie Swan.
Sophia is the latest flame of Bill Callahan which itself could be taken as an endorsement given that he has previously dated Chan (Cat Power) Marshall and Joanna Newsom. Callahan duets with her on Spiderweb and, more prominently, on Weeping Willow.
The ten tracks blend soft soul and gooey commercial pop to produce a very 70s/80s retro feel.
Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks is clearly a role model but at times she also sounds a lot like Karen Carpenter particularly on The Right Place ("I'm so alone without you") and In Paper ("I was born to fly away").
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The single Nothing To Lose and Evermore are firmly in shoegaze territory while
the title track and Close To Me are hymns to dreamy synth-pop. A couple of other tracks ape the consummate disco-pop of Bowie's Sound And Vision.
I imagine most songs were written on acoustic guitar or piano then fleshed out in the studio with some gentle synthesised hooks and "Bassy" Bob Brockman adding R'n'B touches.
It's all very light and fluffy but surprisingly effective.
Sophia Knapp's Website
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