Of Thee I Sing

AMG Review of Of Thee I Sing

Carol Wright
All Music Guide

After establishing her sweet "ritual/chant" visionary sound for her 1986 Hidden Waters, Sacred Ground, Sophia returns to the pure song form. "One Song" is like a bossa nova, while "Come Unglued (from the Tube)" is a rap-like spoken jazz. "Let the Spirit," backed by a brisk drum patter, guitar, and sax, hurries Sophia's lush voice. "Rainsong" is more sultry, and the blues form begins to showcase Sophia's deep vocal qualities. On "Gentle With Myself," Raphael provides the dreamy, exotic, and languid accompaniment best suited for Sophia's soulful voice. "Feeling Good" from Porgy and Bess also approaches the best of Sophia, but after hearing collaboration with Raphael, I wonder why she'd choose to sing another style.