Music
Press
“Operatic, ambitious and more than a little glam, the members of Sophe Lux craft sophisticated, theatrical pop. While the band clearly channels influences like Kate Bush and David Bowie, it continues to push artistic boundaries, both sonically and visually.
Unafraid of outrageous costumes and mini-operettas, Sophe Lux is the rarest of musical birds – which is to say it’s unique and unforgettable, particularly in a city that tends to favor knit caps and a lo-fi aesthetic over frills and trills.” - Portland Tribune - January 4, 2007 - The Portland Tribune
“Seriously well crafted pop songs, dark, provocative lyrics,sung by a killer voice and gloriously catchy pop hooks. This is the art-rock I grew up with back with a vengance.” - Duggup – December 12, 2006 - Duggup
"This band has been dazzling the music scene with waltz beats, organ riffs, and
angelic sounding choruses about things like robots and hypnosis. With addictive
pop hooks and talent galore their new album "Waking The Mystics" is one you'll
want to play over and over again." - Portland Mercury - The Portland Mercury
"Pardon me if this review is scatter-brained because my my mind has officially been blown. Portland's Sophe Lux is without a doubt the most distinct band I've covered." - College News Magazine
November 24, 2006
Sophe Lux: PJ Harvey meets Freddy Mercury
I've been listening to Sophe Lux's CD Waking the Mystics nonstop for a week or so, and just loving it. The Portland, OR eclectic glam band is fronted by Wendy Haynes, who sounds a little like PJ Harvey by way of Freddy Mercury. The songwriting is often hilarious, sometimes profound, and the songs veer from faux-psychedelic 1960s clavier rock ("God Doesn't Take American Express") to luscious sci-fi rock opera ("Marie Antoinette Robot 2073") to bouncy numbers like "Little Soldiers of Time." It's singable, it's danceable and the concert DVD I've been perusing suggests that this is the kind of thing you want to see live, too. - Cory Doctorow
"The band's tumbling melodies, trippy lyrics, eclectic instrumental
arrangements, and all-out pageantry have dazzled. Waking the Mystics, Sophe Lux's second full-length, was mixed by Adam Selzer (the Decemberists, M. Ward) and drops via Zarathustra Records. Sophe Lux blend elements of the Dresden Dolls, Queen, a French opera, Ella Fitzgerald, and, yes, Dante to achieve some awesomely bizarre, dark and sweet soundscapes. The collective employs tinkling bells, harpsichords, and carnivalesque accordions as Haynes theatrically croons lyrics inspired by the works of Nietzsche and William Blake. "Fill Me Up with Grace" and "Time of Light" take the jazzy center stage of Waking the Mystics, while "Target Market" and " Marie Antoinette Robot 2073 (A Rock Opera)" hold down the dreamlike sideshow tent."
- SPIN
"There must be something in the water out in Portland, OR that turns perfectly normal musicians into fancy-dressed, concept loving, rock-opera terrorists. That would explain how the city that produced the Decemberists has now birthed Sophe Lux. Weimar-infused, accordion loving experimental cabaret is lead by the blond and beautiful Gwynneth Haynes whose octave-jumping soprano could easily turn from indie rock to Brecht-Weill torch songs." - Philidelphia Weekly
"Never let it be said that Sophe Lux aims low: Dramatic and retro, and full of synths and a sort of throwback arena rock momentousness, Sophe Lux covers more ground than most bands ever set foot on." - Eugene Weekly
"These guys totally get it. And by "it" I mean the concept of modern music as serious art that still manages to entertain: something Freddie Mercury and Bryan Ferry and Peter Gabriel got a long time ago. This is about ten minutes of outstanding theatrical rock that lasts considerably longer, mostly because the tracks on this EP will replay several times before you become a little concerned about attracting flies to your gaping mouth." - Music Geek, Elbows
"Waking The Mystics is poised to become a cult classic." - Indiana Daily Student Magazine
Discography
Plastic Apple - 2002
Recorded by Larry Crane (Death Cab for Cutie, Quasi, Elliot Smith) and featuring John Mowen on drums (The Decemberists) and Mike Clarke on pianos (Steve Malkmus & The Jicks).
"Intelligent rock stars are a rarity these days which is why Sophe Lux should be soaked up like the sun." -The Oregonian
Plastic Apple track
"Perfect Love" appears on compilation "17 Ways to Beat The Rain" Songs chosen by Dave Allen (Gang of Four) to showcase best bands in Portland 2004. Compilation includes The Decemberists and Viva Voce.
"Little Odessa" and Peur Eternus" appear on Station to Station Compilation showcasing the best live recordings from KBOO radio 2004.
Waking the Mystics - 2007
" 'Waking The Mystics' is the kind of effort you wish more bands were darling and adventurous enough to attempt." Nuvo.net
Photos
Bio
These guys totally get it. And by "it" I mean the concept of modern music as serious art that still manages to entertain; something Freddie Mercury and Bryan Ferry and Peter Gabriel got a long time ago. This is about ten minutes of outstanding theatrical rock that lasts considerably longer, mostly because the two tracks on this EP will replay several times before you become a little concerned about attracting flies to your gaping mouth and pop the thing out of your CD player. It's been a long time since I've heard such enthusiastically faithful attention paid to the critical factors that make serious theatrical rock work really well; with the Hungry Ghost EP we get to witness what could become the birth of a new art rock classic." -Music Geek
"Pardon me if this review is scatter-brained, because my mind has officially been blown. Portland's Sophe Lux is without question the most distinct band I've covered since handling album reviews for College News. And yet, pondering a way to describe their act took no time at all. Let's start with a female lead singer. Give her the attitude and wardrobe of Freddie Mercury, the voice of Kate Bush, and the depth of Tori Amos. As generous a description as that is, it perfectly depicts Sophe Lux's Gwynne Haynes. Now imagine Queen with five members, three of which are female, including the aforementioned Haynes. Add more synthesizers while keeping Queen's rock opera storytelling approach and you have the recipe for Sophe Lux. -College News Magazine
"The band's tumbling melodies, trippy lyrics, eclectic instrumental arrangements, and all-out pageantry have dazzled. Sophe Lux blends elements of the Dresden Dolls, Queen, a French opera, Ella Fitzgerald, and, yes, Dante to achieve some awesomely bizarre, dark and sweet soundscapes."
-SPIN
"Sophe Lux sounds like Kate Bush fronting Queen."-WNYC Sound Check (NYC NPR)
"I've been listening to Sophe Lux's CD Waking the Mystics nonstop for a week or so, and just loving it. The Portland, OR eclectic glam band is fronted by Gwynneth Haynes, who sounds a little like PJ Harvey by way of Freddy Mercury. The songwriting is often hilarious, sometimes profound, and the songs veer from faux-psychedelic 1960s clavier rock ("God Doesn't Take American Express") to luscious sci-fi rock opera ("Marie Antoinette Robot 2073") to bouncy numbers like "Little Soldiers of Time." It's singable, it's danceable and the concert DVD I've been perusing suggests that this is the kind of thing you want to see live."
-Cory Doctorow, BOING BOING
Sophe Lux is an art-rock ensemble from Portland, Oregon. In the tradition of bands like Of Montreal, early Roxy Music, and Arcade Fire, Sophe Lux performances are spectacles with shiny costumes and playful theatricals. Often described as a female Freddie Mercury, lead singer and songwriter Gwynneth Haynes is known for her a ability to hold audiences captive. �The Portland band�s live performance is brilliantly theatrical, and the wailing falsetto of Gwynneth Haynes transforms each show into a bona fide rock opera� (Willamette Week).
Sophe Lux was created in 2002 as the brainchild of singer-songwriter, actress, visual and performance artist, Gwynneth Haynes. Exploring painting, acting, performance art, writing, and poetry; Haynes first job was acting in TV commercials at the age of 6. Throughout her youth she appeared in homemade theatricals and movies directed by her big brother, filmmaker Todd Haynes (I�m Not There, Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven). At age 14 Haynes became captivated by the art of the Dada and Surrealists schools and the music of Billy Holiday, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, and The Beatles. Teaching herself how to play guitar she started writing songs. Haynes made her adolescent income collecting change form passers by while performing her songs on the streets of Venice Beach.
In 2004 Sophe Lux became a true band with various formations until the current line up locked into place in 2008 with: Briana Ratterman, (keys, accordion, vocals) a classically trained musician and noted actress, performance, conceptual, and visual artist. Like Eno in early Roxy music she wears many hats in the band managing synth, glockenspiel, accordion and piano duties with her effortless magic. The beautiful Erika Miller (Bass, vocals) is a stunning and mysterious red head. She has the royal air of someone who was born in the Golden Age. Twayn Willimas (guitar, vocals) high Priest of all fretted instruments. Williams packs in eloquent Eno and Frippian esque ambient e-bow loops and artful guitar riffs. Kent Sisson (drums) lays down some of the prettiest ass-giggling grooves around. His powerful and competent drum work passionately anchors and drives the Sophe Lux sound forward with an unforgiving vengeance. Sisson has a penchant for stand up comedy and loves making people of all ages laugh as well as dance.
The band�s releases its gospel art rock opera EP Hungry Ghost t
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