C O V E R		R E V I E W
		First of all, the titular Sapphie is -- or rather, was -- a dog for whom Richard Youngs developed a fondness; don't get any ideas about the love shared by two women, as there's none of that going on here. What Sapphie offers is three longish songs consisting solely of Youngs' classical guitar-work and his warbling falsetto vocal, intended as a tribute to Sapphie. Imagine delicate, gentle acoustic melodies accompanied by a guy who sounds like Jeremy Enigk on prescription-strength cough syrup, or Dan Treacy on the last, most depressing Television Personalities album...pretty emotional stuff. Youngs even sounds like Neil Young a bit, but only for a few seconds at a time -- mostly on "A Fullness of Light in Your Soul" -- and the similarity has a lot to do with the raw simplicity of Youngs' delivery; he's singing on his own terms, at his own pace, and if you don't like it you can go somewhere else. This isn't a disc that's going to make an appearance at your next raucous party -- at least, unless The Wall fails to get rid of the last few guests. The mournful tone and minimalist atmosphere of these songs will appeal to fans of groups like the mostly instrumental Rachel's, or to the more daring (and emotionally stable) members of the emo-core crowd, or to listeners for whom making a primal emotional connection with their music is of supreme importance. Regardless, you'll find that the autumnal mood of Youngs' compositions lingers long after the hum of the last plucked string has faded.
	I N F O
Richard Youngs Sapphie Oblique CD
		Review by George Zahora

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