Review

Corinne Bailey Rae: The Sea

This lady released her eponymous debut album in 2006. It was recorded on a shoestring budget yet went on to yield hits like 'Put Your Records On' and 'Like A Star'. The album shot to the pole position over here and crashed into the Billboard top twenty earning her the accolade of being the first British female to do this in decades. Sales passed four million as Corinne became an international figure! And rightly so!

As she started working on its follow-up, her husband Jason Rae, died from an accidental drug overdose. It was a dreadful, awful tragedy which knocked her sideways. Corinne lost her soul mate, lover and inspiration: and she lost her will to work – “there was a long period when I didn’t really hear any songs” she said. But, in time, her instinct to produce a melody and a lyric reappeared – “I don’t know why, but I was glad to have it back” – and this cd is the result. As you can expect, it’s an extremely personal collection of songs and, like everything she does, they’re to impress Jason.

Listening to this I feel I’m actually intruding into Corinne’s private life, peeking into her innermost thoughts and feeling a little of the pain she’s suffering. But she has an edge; perhaps a bitter sweet approach to the songs which she brings alive with sadness on the one hand, a certain amount of anger maybe on the other, but with armfuls of love to see her through. The music shows she’s struggling with her emotions; she must feel like her very life has been snatched away from her, but death is a part of life, and I suspect there’s a certain hope coming through the music.. A hope for tomorrow, and a time when her wounds will be healed although the scar will never disappear.

How can I say I enjoyed this cd? That just doesn’t sound right does it? But I did. Her craft has never been more tested; she’s an incredibly brave lady to tackle this, from the opening track 'Are You Here' with its sweeping emotion, to the warm blues/funk in 'Feels Like The First Time' and the easy 'I Would Like To Call It Beauty'. Different sounds, different approaches, which go to make up an exceptional cd from a very dignified and professional singer.
Words SHARON DAVIS