Chorizo’s favourite album of 2025: I Still Want To Share by Sophie Jamieson

This is a slightly longer version of an article I wrote for the “Best Of 2025” issue of the fanzine “Lunchtime For The Wild Youth”

Sopihe Jamieson at Band On The Wall, Manchester 5th December 2023

I first encountered Sophie Jamieson in 2023 when I saw her supporting Lanterns On The Lake at Band on the Wall, Manchester. One person playing solo with guitar happens to be my least favourite kind of support act. It’s very difficult to make an impression in 30 minutes with a set of songs the audience are unfamiliar with and minimal accompaniment. But every now and again, a solo support act blows me away and I was absolutely mesmerised by Sophie’s songs and especially her voice. I went on Bandcamp soon after, bought her album “Choosing” and really liked it. But I noticed that most of the songs she’d played at the Band On The Wall gig weren’t on it so I kept a keen eye out for her next release.

That came along in January of this year with the second album “I Still Want To Care” on the ever-reliable Bella Union label which, as you probably know, is run by Simon Raymonde (ex Cocteau Twins). Once again the songs and the voice are just as breathtakingly great as I expected. But in addition to that, there are the beautiful arrangements and the layers of harmony vocals that are just incredible and really make it something very, very special.

Shortly after the album’s release, I saw Sophie play with her band at one of my favourite small venues, Low Four in Manchester. I recognised the drummer as another Bella Union artist Ed Riman. Last time I saw him, he was singing & playing keyboards with Lost Horizons, the band that label boss Simon formed with ex Dif Juz drummer Richard Thomas (a fellow QPR fan, come on you Rs!!). Ed sings lead on “Frenzy Fear” & “The Engine,” 2 of the best tracks on the first Lost Horizons album. He has also released 3 of his own albums under the name Hilang Child, the latest “Gratitude Journal” released in September 2025.

During the gig, the other musicians in the band subtly supported the songs just as they do on the album. They give the songs space to breathe and they understand that much under-rated skill in musicians: restraint. Knowing when not to play.

I bought a signed CD from Sophie after the gig and I have been playing it regularly ever since.

Sophie and her picked Hagstrom electric guitar are a constant through the whole album and, apart from Ed on drums, she plays nearly all of the other instruments. She co-produced the album with Guy Massey and Josephine Stephenson did an incredible job with the string arrangements which are just perfect.

Our modern methods of consuming music are all about instant gratification. When you have every song in the world one click away, it’s very difficult not to take that for granted. I’m as guilty of it as anyone. Sometimes I will read an album review, start listening to it and not even get through the first track before dismissing it. The world is so busy and fast-moving these days we’ve all ended up being afflicted with short attention spans. You probably haven’t even read up to this point of this blog post! But if you have then let me tell you that “I Still Want To Share” is not an album that’s going to hit you immediately. Think of some of your favourite albums. I bet there are loads of those that didn’t particularly click on the first listen. Most of the best music doesn’t. It takes 4 or 5 listens before it gets its hooks into you. But this is an album full of beautiful songs and stunning vocals that’s well worth investing time in so allow yourself some time to get to know it.

If you liked either of Naima Bock’s albums or the quieter songs on Kim Deal’s solo album then you will love this. My wife says that Sophie’s voice reminds her of Weyes Blood. Fair comment but I think Sophie’s album is far more interesting.

Lyrically I’m not too sure what’s going on. Back at that gig in 2023, Sophie said something about her songs having started out as love songs but then morphed into break-up songs. Some of the relationships she’s singing about might be romantic but at other times (e.g. first verse of the title track) it seems to be about a sibling (or is it a lack of?)

There’s definitely a sense of reaching for something that can’t quite be grasped across the album. That feeling of unfulfillment / frustration is often mirrored in the music. Most of the melodies and chord sequences don’t resolve in the way you expect them to, instead they meander and re-direct off along more unusual paths.

After buying a ticket for The Golden Dregs playing in Liverpool in November, I was delighted to find out later that Sophie Jamieson was supporting. In the pub beforehand, I was bigging her up to my friends and raving about how great the album is. Then she played a set of completely new songs with nothing from that album at all!! But those new songs were amazing too, so she’s definitely an artist I’ll be buying more music from in the future.

Sophie Jamieson at Philharmonic Music Rooms, Liverpool 20th November 2025 (supporting The Golden Dregs)

Some of those new songs have just been released on the “Stitch” EP. Another new song (“You’re Gonna Kill Me”) can be found on the “Middle Farm Sessions Vol.3” compilation. There’s also a wonderfully captivating song called “How Much” that came out on the Heartists for Palestine compiliation “Counting The Strips Of Light.” From a conversation at the merch stand after the Liverpool gig, I found out that the new album will probably be a little more stripped back and that she’s about to start recording it. So look out for that in 2026 but in the meantime, get yourself along to her Bandcamp page or to bellaunion.com to buy the album. While you’re there, add some Hilang Child & Lost Horizons albums to your basket. The recent Ezra Furman one too.

Related posts on this website: