| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Nu-soul songbird Corrine Bailey Rae, 31, hasn’t had a very good time of things since the death of her husband, Jason Rae, a couple of years ago. Now she’s back with a new album, The Sea. Apparently she went into lockdown trying to cope with her grief. It was a very bleak time. So, inevitably, Rae has used this album, like many do, as a sort of cathartic experience, gushing songs about pathos and loss and all those horrible and confusing emotions associated with sad times. There is a danger however, that things might be too introverted or self-indulgent, and not making it accessible enough. However, there are glimpses of hope here and there. Rae doesn’t exactly ‘break sweat’ in terms of pace, instead opting for the soulful grooves of say Marvin Gaye, but without the ‘hit’ mentality driving her writing. There are a couple of surprises, however. She also cites Sly Stone’s album Fresh (1973) as an inspiration. In terms of home-grown talent, Rae’s probably closer to a modern day Joan Armatrading than anyone else, and is surely set to have a career as long as hers. The ambience that steered her multi-award-winning self-titled debut is still there, which created a stir over The Pond. Her voice has always bordered on filigree-fragile, now with added anguish, inevitably. Opener Are You Here, might suggest a hubby ‘experience’, but there’s no actual referencing, just hints.
Next, I’d Do It All Again, turns out to be the jewel in the crown. This fabulous ballad would make even Mr. Gaye blush due to the overwhelming soulfulness of her voice and music. Feels Like The First Time has that ‘single’ hook that graces all smart 45s, a chunky -funky template with dollops of swirling strings of late 60s soul with a 21st century twist. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if The Blackest Lily is chosen (at some point) to be a single. This is the ‘biggest’ sound she’s created and there’s a faire bit of brass, heavy bass-lines and edgy guitar licks going on to surprise us all, and so far it’s a breath of fresh air away from the loungy mood. This is one of the ‘suprises’. It’s slipstreamed by a sublime R&B-tinged groove where she goes into a virtually perfect Linda Lewis modus operandi. The bass is heavy. The brass and strings give it a retro texture, but we know its here and now happenings, on what is essential a blossoming love affair. She hits the smooch button with style and conviction as she masterfully steers herself through the swooning ballad Love’s On Its Way – a stunning mini-opus. Possibly her best vocal performance surfaces on the lo-fi ballad I Would |Like To Call It Beauty, and just for the record it is a beauty, dedicated to her much missed Jason. The pace quickens once again on beaty Paris Nights / New York Mornings, which has more Lily Allen flourishes than Rae’s, though the strings define it as hers. Paper Dolls and Diving For Hearts are the major let-downs and should have been left on the cutting room floor, because they’re over shadowed by the others, basically. Rae’s deeply melancholic and touching The Sea, is a farewell, to you know who, which is beautifully sung and written. She must have cried buckets after nailing this. And why not, eh? The verdict: Welcome back!
Weblinks: corinnebaileyrae.net / myspace.com/corrinebaileyrae
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
