Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Hana
- Thread starter kaushik
- Start date
This sounds... homemade? Maybe that's what they were going for?
The song itself is nice though.
The song itself is nice though.
Yes! This is what I was waiting for, those synths were an instant click for me. Like Kaushik said, there are some Depeche mode influences apparent in the song and that's never a bad thing. From BTC to this is a complete 180 for me. I love it and am now really looking forward to 'Hearing In Color' as well as the rest of Hana.
The vocal production on this is woeful. I felt the same with breaking the circle as well, everything sounds like a first take? Fine if you’re going for rawness or “authenticity” or whatever but it completely clashes with the attempt at a glossy synth production and makes the whole thing seem a bit amateurish?
I really hope she’s got some gems saved for the album. It’s a shame Hypnotized was a one off as it’s streets ahead of either of these tracks, production wise.
I really hope she’s got some gems saved for the album. It’s a shame Hypnotized was a one off as it’s streets ahead of either of these tracks, production wise.
Somewhere along the way, she must have realised this and recorded Hypnotized for everyone craving disco / dance-pop from her. It's tragic that both Jack and Betty did not promote their duets with Sophie. I think both those songs would have done extremely well, given the success of the Kitchen Disco. Sophie has never really understood how to capitalise on opportunities like these. And the sound that she chooses for every album is either too early or too late, as far as the general public is concerned. Given the less-than-lukewarm response that Hana is getting here, so far, I feel it might end up being her lowest charting album. But I'm still hoping her fanbase outside PopJustice supports her. There have been some nice comments on YouTube and Instagram, so far.
I have a feeling she'll switch things up after this album. Like @Nunya B said, it hasn't been a long time since Hypnotized. She could still release go back to that sound once the trilogy is done. Sophie mentioned on one of her podcast episodes that her new album may certainly not be a "dance"-album but there's definitely stuff in it that one can move to. So maybe she is thinking about it - but wanted to finish what she was working on first?
It's sad that both new singles aren't getting as much love as they should! They are both stellar! I'm absolutely in love with Everything Is Sweet. Every time I play the song, I fall in love with it a little bit more - it's quickly becoming one of my favourite songs by her. I sincerely hope there's a remix that wins over some fans who are bothered by the production.
I applaud her going with her gut and doing music she wants to make but sadly I don't think her audience are necessarily here for it. You can't deny her popularity increased dramatically during the Kitchen Disco era and so I think a lot of casual as well as hardcore fans are somewhat disappointed by the sound from this next era.
I will still check the album out but as I already stated, it's the first time I haven't rushed to pre-order and as it stands right now I'm really not very excited for the new music. I hope I'm proved wrong though and end up loving it.
I will still check the album out but as I already stated, it's the first time I haven't rushed to pre-order and as it stands right now I'm really not very excited for the new music. I hope I'm proved wrong though and end up loving it.
Please can we stop measuring success by stats comments radio play etc. She’s an album artist now and a singles one because she releases them haha. she’s a woman in her mid 40s and frankly smashing it in this regard considering the ageism that exists across the industry. Wodny I am sorry but that comment had brought nothing to this conversation.
I actually feel that she is on the cusp of her first no.1 album. She has been working so hard serving all the genres Hypnotized, Deep in Vogue etc… I have never been a bigger fan. She’s now officially a UK pop indie icon. And the public know it x
Her new music is gorgeous. Her lyrics are top! universe not boring love… Yes it’s a little to similar to tracks off familia but that’s not a bad thing I LOVE those tracks, why would I not want more?
Go on SMEB you got my back!
I actually feel that she is on the cusp of her first no.1 album. She has been working so hard serving all the genres Hypnotized, Deep in Vogue etc… I have never been a bigger fan. She’s now officially a UK pop indie icon. And the public know it x
Her new music is gorgeous. Her lyrics are top! universe not boring love… Yes it’s a little to similar to tracks off familia but that’s not a bad thing I LOVE those tracks, why would I not want more?
Go on SMEB you got my back!
This trilogy has taken almost 10 years to get to this point. It could’ve been cute over 3-5 years and the similarity in sound would’ve felt like a concise project. Instead it just feels like more of the same and it’s going on a decade now!! I admit that the Kitchen Disco saga was unplanned but she could’ve released Hana alongside that. The music isn’t bad it’s just like, the same but a bit better this time.
I just need something interesting Sophie please! I feel like she needs a detox from all the uninspired men in her life.
I just need something interesting Sophie please! I feel like she needs a detox from all the uninspired men in her life.
I fear that even if she switch sound for another album, it will take another 3-4 years to actually release it, which actually feels like a very tiring period of time. People were excited for this album mainly because she put herself again into the radar of so many people, with Kitchen Disco being her "small revival", and especially after putting out brilliant Hypnotized.
Those two released songs are okay, cohesive in terms of quality of previous two albums, but I'm just not so excited for this album. I bet it's going to be another cute body of work for her.
Those two released songs are okay, cohesive in terms of quality of previous two albums, but I'm just not so excited for this album. I bet it's going to be another cute body of work for her.
So it turns out Everything Is Sweet is not a single but a buzz-track / instant grat / one of those songs that you can listen to after pre-ordering - apparently Sophie confirmed this to a fan on twitter. I’m a bit confused because this song actually has artwork, which Breaking The Circle missed out on.
They/Them
The whole Kitchen Disco thing was cute but I doubt it did much for her in the long run. The GP are here for her doing a show that is mainly covers along with a few of her own songs but they aren't going to be buying the new album or streaming the singles. People outside her fanbase haven't really cared about her music for so long and I can't see that changing sadly, no matter if it is dance music or whatever it is she conjures up with Ed.
Honestly, if Sigala or Calvin or whoever could just rope her in for a feature... that might do something.
Not that old chestnut when a song isn't really doing much. ''It was just a grat track''.