SOPHIE RIMHEDEN SOPHIE RIMHEDEN ALBUM SRP, BORDER RELEASE: NOVEMBER 9, 2005 REVIEW: DECEMBER 9, 2005

Sophie Rimheden is back, and has seemingly advanced her sound into totally new and unexpected directions (trancepop IDM anyone?). This self-titled album may hint at being a much more personal affair – and if so, the experience of finally getting to hear the real Sophie is a musically satisfying one. I believe this outing really shows a blossoming of her talent and confidence, being for me her most accomplished, and most experimental album to date.

The album kicks off with “Makes Me Close My Eyes”, and what a great way to start! Crunching noises battle with bubbling acid effects to gain attention over Rimheden’s rather nice vocal performance. It seems the vocoder tricks of old are long gone, which allows her natural vocal ability to shine – and trust me, she does really have a nice voice! In addition, the structures, sounds and instruments feel like they’ve all been blended in a large sonic melting-pot – the tracks coming out in various ladlefuls of concocted wonderment.

Largely an all-Sophie Rimheden production, including mixing and nearly all instrumental and most vocal duties, although Sophie has invited guests. Track two, “It’s Your Head”, probably shows the best work by another artist, with fine sultry vocals provided by Swedish veteran Kajsa Grytt.

Other highlights include a banging orchestral electro track named “Never Ever”, “The Real Way”, which is a rather jolly, bouncy number which I couldn’t help repeating as soon as it had finished since I enjoyed it so much, and “Can You Save Me?” (featuring Annika Holmberg on lead vocals), which could possibly be described as one of the quirkier single releases of the year.

On this form Sophie Rimheden is starting to flex her musical muscles, and long may it continue if these choice tracks are the result!

MIKE WHYTE