Who would you be if you didn鈥檛 have to fit into societal expectations?
Grammy Award-winner answers this question for herself in her latest body of work, 鈥淏lack Rainbows.鈥� It is her fourth album and first in seven years, since her 2016 release 鈥淭he Heart Speaks in Whispers.鈥�
If you were expecting the same woman who released 鈥淧ut Your Records On鈥� all those years ago 鈥� guess again. On 鈥淏lack Rainbows,鈥� Rae takes a liberal approach when expressing her creative freedoms: she experiments with genres, themes, and ideas with little cohesion, taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster. Some may be down for the ride; others might choose to skip to their favorite songs.
But that may very well be the point: according to a press release, the album was inspired by the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago, which has become a haven for Black art 鈥� a collection that weaves together vastly diverse work. (An influence evident in the track 鈥淗e Will Follow with His Eyes.鈥�)
There鈥檚 a lot to select from: like in the rocking 鈥淓rasure鈥� or serenity-seeking, angelic piano ballad 鈥淧each Velvet Sky.鈥�
On 鈥淩ed Horse,鈥� Rae repeats a soulful hook dedicated to the object of her desire: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e the one that I/I've been waiting for,鈥� she repeats. Then, just as quickly, she鈥檚 onto the next: busting out the electric guitar and handclaps while narrating the story of a 17-year-old narrator on the aforementioned 鈥淣ew York Transit Queen.鈥�
鈥淣ew York Transit Queen/Little over 17,鈥� she cheers. 鈥淣ew York Transit Queen/She gets her rides for free!鈥�
This album is unique to Rae because it allows her voice to be a supporting character, where the lead is played by her powerful, often heavy instrumentals. Like in the experimental title track 鈥淏lack Rainbows,鈥� with its obscured and distorted vocal effects.
In the mid-00s, Rae was inescapable. Her 2006 breakout hit 鈥淧ut Your Records On,鈥� and the critically acclaimed folky-R&B-y singles that followed proved she knew how to write a catchy song for passive radio-ready audiences. However, 鈥淏lack Rainbows鈥� is an eclectic mix that encourages active consumption: songs durations vary from two to eight minutes. Beyond her punk and pianos, she encompasses a kind of electro-funk (鈥淓arthlings鈥�). This album was not created to fit into a world of TikTok-friendly, easily consumed hooks. It was created by a versatile artist allowing herself to display a wide range of musical talent.
Admittedly, this album is not the same Corinne Bailey Rae we met in 2006鈥� but who wants to be the person they were 2006 when it鈥檚 2023?
___
AP music reviews:
Mya Vinnett, The Associated Press