Sophie Jamieson
Album: Where EP
Label: Folkroom
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/sophiejamieson

You know that there is a generational thing going on when you are surprised that a single has been taken from an EP to promote the launch of an EP, rather than an album, but then on the generation thing, I still come from a generation that had to buy a complete album, rather than have the luxury of combing through the album in advance and making the cost decision as whether it would be cheaper to buy the album at a discount or buy the whole thing.

I digress, I first picked up on this EP via the single, "Waterloo", which did its job in preparing me for the "Where" EP from the immensely talented Sophie Jamieson. There was an ethereal quality to the single, a theme that follows through on the EP. Jamieson has a voice that hangs in the air and gently caresses the pathway to the synaptic nerves, impinging on the edge of you consciousness, rather than assaulting the ears.

Managing that style of music, really does require talent and focus, get it wrong one way and you are into the world of the twee and heading towards a clip of The Hobbit. Get it wrong in the other direction and it all sounds a bit too arty, pretty an' all, but ultimately pretentious, Jamieson guides "Where" right down that middle aisle, you understand where she's coming from, but ultimately she gives you enough space for you to interpret where she's coming from rather than dictate and the result of that is a five tracker that feels like it's been built with you in mind.

By making something unique to her, Sophie Jamieson has delivered an EP that draws you in and makes you want to listen. Every one of the five tracks on display reaches out to you and you can't ask for more than a hundred percent. It isn't so much the "Where" which is the artistic mind of Sophie Jamieson, but more the why, because it's a damned fine listen.

Neil King