Search - Sophie Zelmani :: Sophie Zelmani

Grew up on me like no other album

Sandy | Brussels, Belgium | 08/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It took me three times before this album became a classic in my collection. The first time I'm afraid I overlooked her because I had bough Sarah McLachlan "Surfacing" the same day and was mesmerized. The second time, some songs started to stand up and got repeat treatment. The third time, the connection happened. I purchased all her further releases since."There must be a reason" is an upbeat folksong about relationships between a girl and her stepfather. I guess there is some autobiographical content as the touching "Tell me you're joking" is about a child who just lost his father. I love "You and me" story telling style. There is no chorus in this song portraying the quick encounter of a girl and a homeless man in the street while she's waiting for her bus. "I'll see you in another world" is a beautiful upbeat ballad. I liked the saxophone solo and the light whistle at the end. Those are my favorite songs, but are not the only assets of the album. "I'd be broken", "So good", "Always you", "Until dawn" and "Stand by" are pop folk songs that instantaneously stick in your head once you heard them. I recommend Sophie's albums to anyone who enjoys Lilith Fair girls, and especially to Suzanne Vega listeners."

Simple Elegance

... | Montreal | 08/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm hard pressed to do justice to the simple elegance of this album in a review, and I'll freely admit that it took me several listens to really get into Sophie Zelmani. At a casual listen it sounds soft and doesn't really grab your attention, but with a few repeated listening her lilting voice and subtle instrumentation really caught my ear, and before long I was officially hooked.To be entirely truthful, this is a rather melancholy album with themes dwelling continually on the dissolution of the family and abandonment by the father. The songwriting is very much in a storytelling style, and although there is a slight hint of pop to the songs it's the folk and blues influences that really shine through. Although every song is replete with understated beauty, some personal favorites include the opener "I'd be broken", the more upbeat "I'll see you", "Tell me you're joking", and "I'll remember you".Unfortunately not well known, Sophie writes and sings in her very own distinctive way. She sounds different from anyone else out there, and its well worth your time to track down some of her albums to find out for yourself."

This is Country-Western via Sweden

12/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was under a very mistaken impression that Sophie's music was more along the lines of Bel Canto or even Bjork. It is not by a long shot. It really is country-western although very well done. The songs are distinct, Sophie's voice is very pleasant, the musicians are excellent, and it is well produced. The only problem for me is that it is still country-western at its core. This cd will grow dusty in my collection as a result until I have a visitor into country-western who will probably appreciate the music far more than I do.While I do not like labels, the misinformed like myself might be helped by one in this case."