Sophie share new track "The Drifter"

It took nearly 7 years but after kicking down the door and breaking their way back into the public conscience with the epic guitar-driven angularity of Resisting, Sophia continue their return apace with this wide-screen ode to lovelorn wanderlust that reminds us why Robin Proper-Sheppard has become so widely respected for his mastery of all that is sumptuously dark and slow-motion with the majestically cinematic sway of The Drifter.

Described by Robin as a countrified version of The Cure (remembering one of Robin's all-time favourite albums is The Cure's 17 Seconds), The Drifter takes the stripped back purity of Harvest-era Neil Young, layers it with the dark glowing ambience of a vintage Juno 60 synth (a rumoured a favourite of, you guessed it, The Cure) and ties it all together with a reverb-drenched guitar hook that could have come straight from a Morricone soundtrack.

And let's not forget the lyrics. We hear from a man who has spent his musical life singing from, and about, the dark of side of Love but now feels (fears?) he has become the dark side of Love.

"She asked "Where have you been all my life?"

I said "Where all the monsters hide."

And forlornly admits that he'd gotten "tired of feeding" so "disappeared for a while and found a quiet place between the laughter and the smiles."

As a theme that runs through the entirety of new album As We Make Our Way (Unknown Harbours) (released 15/04/2016) this sense of self-awareness and reflection pulses through the record (as also expressed on album closer It's Easy To Be Lonely "We're the sum of our choices and mistakes that we make") and with The Drifter sees Robin, in his own way, asking for forgiveness ("And don't take this the wrong way, It was a beautiful story...") before, in fear of the monsters return, he packs his things and "as the walls begin to roar" decides it's time to take his leave.

Robin has spent these last years drifting from place to place, from heart to heart, just hoping, as I think we all do, to find a home in some unknown harbour...

Sophia's sixth studio album As We Make Our Way (Unknown Harbours) will be released 15/04/2016 on The Flower Shop Recordings. Distributed by The Flower Shop Recordings & [PIAS].

• 22/04/16 Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet
• 23/04/16 Maastricht, NL – Muziekgieterij (NEW DATE)
• 24/04/16 Koln, DE – Artheater
• 25/04/16 Hamburg, DE - Nochtspeicher
• 26/04/16 Brussels, BE - Botanique (Rotonde) (SOLD OUT)
• 28/04/16 Munich, DE - Ampere
• 30/04/16 Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain
• 01/05/16 Prague, CZ - Divadlo Dobeška
• 02/05/16 Vienna, AT - Chelsea
• 03/05/16 Graz, AT - Postgarage
• 05/05/16 Zurich, CH - Bogen F
• 06/05/16 Bologna, IT - Covo
• 09/05/16 London, UK - Lexington