Sophie Ellis-Bexter - Hana (Cooking Vinyl) 
Release Date: Out Now
I think this might be a career defining record from Sophie Ellis-Bexter as she embraces her status as national treasure and runs with the creative freedom that affords her. 'Hana' finds an artist at ease with her place in the world and ready to share that status with anyone willing to listen at a string of live dates. 'Hana' is a record inspired by East Asia (the title itself translates from Japanese to English as 'Blossom') but that is not simply a musical inspiration, there is so much more to this record so let's dive in, shall we?
The album opens with the Stranger Things influences 'A Thousand Orchids' full of synth ripples and that trade mark vocal poise welcoming you in to the Ellis-Bexter world in the most understated and classy of ways. Still one of my favourite tracks of 2023, 'Breaking the Circle' is up next with its driving piano melody and sense of urgency mixing 90s Britpop energy with a sense of the theatrical like My Life Story, the Divine Comedy or, dare I say it, theaudience. That energy and urgency is maintained on 'Until The Wheels Fall Off', a track that is tailor made for the closing credits of an uplifting Brit Flick.
The 80s vision of the future that is 'Everything Is Sweet' is up next, all synthetic throbs and neon flashes, before 'Lost In The Sunshine' bursts in like a sweet, summer breeze to blow away any remaining cobwebs you may have. 'Tokyo' is the pivotal track on the album with its heartbroken strum letting the listener know that collaborator Ed Harcourt is in the background on all these tracks. The tempo starts to lift again on 'Beyond The Universe' and the swooning 'He's A Dreamer', both of which give Ellis-Bexter the space to let her vocals roam without inhibition.
The penchant for a Disco beat comes to the fore on the moody 'Reflections' which has a chorus to die for before 'Hearing In Colour' provides a late highlight on the album with its dark indie meets dance vibes, brilliantly showing off the niche that Ellis Bexter has carved out for herself. Penultimate track 'Broken Toy' has a slightly spooky, Gwen Stefani inspired sound to it and then we're treated to 'We've Been Watching You' which sounds like Muse and Goldfrapp collaborating on a track that is destined fro a Bond film. A brilliant album, then, that can be enjoyed at face value but also stands up to deeper inspection if that's your jam.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/SophieEllisBextor
Live Dates:
June:
Fri 23rd – Warwick Castle *supporting Gwen Stefani*Sat 24th – Chelmsford – Foodies Festival Sun 25th: Glastonbury festival – Pyramid Stage Fri 30th: London Lafayette (album launch show) *sold out* July:Sat 8th: Knutsford, Tatton Park – Foodies Festival Sat 15th: Glenarm Castle – Camp Dalfest Sun 16th: Winchester - Foodies Festival Thu 20th: Latitude Festival Sat 22nd: Solihull – Summerfest 2023Thurs 27th-Sun 30th: Saint Minver – Rock Oyster Festival 2023Fri 28th: Camp Bestival Dorset Fri 28th-Sun 30th: Y Not Festival August:Fri 4th: Glasgow Kelvingrove Bandstand Sun 6th: Bulgaria – Burgas Summer LiveFri 18th: Camp Bestival Shopshire Sat 19th: Walesby Torchlight Festival of CampingSun 27th: Foodies Festival Oxford September:Sun 3rd: Jedburgh Edge FestFri 8th: Whitehaven Alive 2023 November:Thur 23rd: Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion Fri 24th: Southend Cliffs Pavilion Sun 26th: Newcastle City Hall Mon 27th: Manchester Bridgewater Hall Wed 29th: Cambridge Corn Exchange Thu 30th: Ipswich Regent Theatre December:Sat 2nd: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Sun 3rd: Sheffield City Hall Tue 5th: London Eventim Apollo Wed 6th: Portsmouth Guildhall Thu 7th: Guildford G Live Sat 9th: Nottingham Royal Concert Hall Sun 10th: York Barbican Tue 12th: Cardiff St David’s Hall Wed 13th: Bristol BeaconThu 14th: Birmingham Symphony Hall