Home (Custom Blue Remix)

I Sit And Hide (Fibratus Remix)

Insight (Darren Doherty & Stefan Inglis Remix)

Paper Thin (Niki McNally Getting Closer Remix Remix)

Maybe I (Little Thoughts' Euphoric Dachshund Mix)

Sophie Barker’s distinctive and critically acclaimed vocal range, paired with her emotional song-writing skills, have yielded world-wide chart-topping singles, million-selling albums and music collaborations with artists as diverse as David Guetta, Zero 7, Groove Armada, The Egg and Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins).

Perhaps best known as one of the trio of original Zero 7 singers, alongside Sia and Mozez, Sophie’s long-awaited 3rd solo album, ’Break the Habit’ took 4 years to record but sees her more comfortable than ever in her own skin. 

Undoubtedly her best work to date, the LP effortlessly flows between her upfront live sound, finely-honed from intense touring and appearances with her band at festivals and venues across the UK and USA, and more atmospheric, mood driven electronica.

Produced by Alex Pilkington, and written by her, with collaborations from Alex, Paul Silver and her band, the album pours out of your speakers like honey. The hypnotic tremolo guitar and soothing vocals of ‘Break The habit’ collide with a timeless low slung drum groove to kick of proceedings, then ‘Start Me’ drops the listener into a haunting world of dream-pop. 

The first single, ‘I Do It to Myself’, ups the tempo, as jangly guitars and synths drive this sexy strut of a song into the esoteric harpsichord breakdown, before the effortlessly catchy eponymous chorus hooks you back in. A stunning and totally justified cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Gold Dust Woman’ confirms the breadth of Sophie’s vocal range, before the electronic loops, edgy synths, analogue fx and melancholic vocal delivery of ‘Let’s Start Again’ nail the atmospherics on the second single from the LP and sumptuous outro.

Sophisticated and stylish, packing a punch and full to the brim of lush sonic surprises, it’s another stunning album from this sultry songstress.

Sophie Barker - Gold Dust Woman (preview)

Sophie Barker - Road 66 (preview)

Sophie Barker - 3 Things (preview)

Sophie Barker - I Do It To Myself (preview)

Sophie Barker - Start Me (preview)

Sophie Barker - Break The Habit (preview)

Earlier this year Sophie Barker, singer with Zero 7, The Egg and more, broke a 6 year silence with the release of her 3rd solo album ‘Break the Habit’. Hailed as “a superb batch of original songs” by the Irish Times and “sublime” by The Crack, the album successfully blended her upfront live sound with more atmospheric, mood driven electronica.

In between festival appearances this summer, Sophie was busy commissioning remixes from across the globe and with ‘LSA’ has created the perfect companion to her original album.

Ranging from the lush orchestration of Murray Gold (‘Road 66’) to the dancefloor dynamite of James Monro (‘Let’s Start Again’), the tracks on ‘LSA’ soothe, seduce and scintillate, with Sophie’s vocals shining through them all. Other standout remixes include The Afropolitan’s exuberant take on ‘Don’t Give it Away’, peak:shift’s shuffling reduction of ‘Breathe Me In’ and label boss Banco de Gaia’s dub of ‘Gold Dust Woman’. 

The breadth of styles and approaches is rare for a remix album but, despite this variety, all of the tracks sound at home here, making ‘LSA’ an album you can listen to from start to finish with no sudden shocks or changes of direction shaking your serenity. Thanks to Sophie’s peerless selection, “LSA’ stands up in its own right as a varied and beautiful collection.

Sophie Barker - Start Me (Niki Mcnally Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - I Do It To Myself (Little Thoughts Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - 3 Things (Okamiko Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - Let's Start Again (James Monro Remix)

Sophie Barker - Don't Give It Away (Robert Thomas Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - I Do It To Myself (DALI Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - Breathe Me In (peak:shift Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - Let's Start Again (Bennun & Healey Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - Don't Give It Away (The Afropolitan Southside Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - Gold Dust Woman (Banco De Gaia Gold Dub Woman Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - 3 Things (Rena Jones Remix) (preview)

Sophie Barker - Road 66 (Murray Gold Remix) (preview)

soundcloud.com/lo18official remixed my song Road 66 for "In The Blink Of An Eye", which was compiled by Banco De Gaia’s Toby Marks to mark 20 years since he set up the soundcloud.com/discogeckorecordings label to accommodate his desire to promote eclectic forward-thinking music with heart, integrity and beauty.

Using Disco Gecko artists to mix and collaborate with other artists on the label, the collections’ eleven tracks incorporate ethereal textures, experimental electronics, downtempo grooves and unique treatments of traditional (and not-so-traditional) instruments.

Features tracks and remixes by soundcloud.com/bancodegaia, soundcloud.com/andrewheatharts, soundcloud.com/sophiebarkermusic, soundcloud.com/radium88band, soundcloud.com/animat, soundcloud.com/dragonflytrio, soundcloud.com/lo18official, soundcloud.com/andyguthrie, soundcloud.com/simonpowermusic and soundcloud.com/drtrippymusic

Sophie Barker - Road 66 (LO18 Remix)(preview)

A version/cover I did of Banco de Gaia's 'Glove Puppet' for his "In the Blink of an Eye" compilation.

In the Blink of an Eye

Glove Puppet (Sophie Barker and FastLap remix)

Banco de Gaia - Glove Puppet (SOPHIE BARKER and FastLap Remix)

A collection of songs for download, including live and acoustic versions of tracks from albums ‘Seagull’ and ‘Earthbound’.

I really wanted to give back something to you for all the support over the last few years. Enjoy listening.

And finally, please do share with friends and family, let me know what you think, if's it's on Facebook, YouTube or whatever, I'm listening.

c. Sophie Barker 2013

www.sophiebarker.com

credits
released 10 March 2013
I'd really like to thank the people who have been involved in putting this album together…Dave Sherwood, Alex Pilkington, Robin Guthrie and especially Leonard Ng for his continued support and performances on this album (especially on ‘Dirt Bag’). 

Insight (Demo)

Bluebell (Live Version)

On My Way Home (Live Version)

Fisherman (Demo)

Dreamlife (Live Version)

Sophie Barker’s distinctive and critically acclaimed vocal range, paired with her emotional song-writing skills, have yielded world-wide chart-topping singles, million-selling albums and music collaborations with artists as diverse as David Guetta, Zero 7, Groove Armada, The Egg and Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins).

Having formed her first group at 9 years of age, as a teenager, Sophie went on to write and perform songs with her guitar at venues across the UK. After completing her degree at UCL, she moved beyond her mid-90s record deal with Sony, to join down-tempo lounge wizards, Zero 7, and co-wrote their huge hit ‘Destiny’ with Sia Furler. 

Her evocative vocal delivery and charismatic stage presence became an integral part of the Zero 7 sound and live show. Capitalising on her fan base, she began to release as a solo artist. Her first two albums ’Earthbound’ (2005) and ‘Seagull’ (2011) gained support from DJs as varied as Don Letts and Janice Long with radio plays on BBC 6music and Radio 2 among a plethora of other stations.

Her long-awaited 3rd solo album, ’Break the Habit’ took 4 years to record but sees her more comfortable than ever in her own skin. Undoubtedly her best work to date, the LP effortlessly flows between her upfront live sound, finely-honed from intense touring and appearances with her band at festivals and venues across the UK and USA, and more atmospheric, mood-driven electronica.

Popular tracks by Sophie Barker