No! We're not going to the seaside although that would be rather fun but it's the name of Corinne Bailey Rae's new album issued in the UK on Virgin on February 1st.
It's been a good while in the making from S/T which sold four million copies world-wide and picked up several awards through the untimely death in 2008 of her partner.
Of the ballads 'The Sea' a piece inspired by the downing of her Grandfather, has lush beatlesque qualitys and closes the album on a high. My copy was the digipak but really it's more a mini lp style gatefold sleeve minus a inner sleeve.
I'd grade it three and a half out of five which may sound low but this album is heads and shoulders above much of what R&B divas come up with lyrically and stylistically and is a slow grower.
It seems so long from the groups last releases Lovers Rock Live never mind the Lover's Rock itself.
In that time much in the World has changed and not necessarily for the better.
The good thing I would say about this album is just that - it's basically the same vibe - just updated with lyrics that match our needs today surrounded as we are by conflict and mutual misunderstanding.
As ever Sade have come up with sophisticated pop, with heartfelt lyrical themes and lithe acoustic guitars often played against snappish synthetic beats. The lead single Soldier Of Love is aurally ornate, with military-issue snare drumming. Be That Easy is feathery country soul, and In Another Time waltzes slow to a minor key. There’s no big-beat single, nor is their any of the all too prevailing auto tune. Strongly recommended.
Many of the songs such as the opener 'Are You Here' are built on insistent bass riffs and another 'The Blackest Lily' is driven by heavy bass and rock guitar solo a reflection of her past involvement in rock.
Stylistically many of these songs are slow reflective pieces with some uptempo numbers added to avoid the drift toward the maudlin.'I Would call It Beauty' is a gorgeous slow piece.
Of the ballads 'The Sea' a piece inspired by the downing of her Grandfather, has lush beatlesque qualitys and closes the album on a high. My copy was the digipak but really it's more a mini lp style gatefold sleeve minus a inner sleeve.
I'd grade it three and a half out of five which may sound low but this album is heads and shoulders above much of what R&B divas come up with lyrically and stylistically and is a slow grower.
It seems so long from the groups last releases Lovers Rock Live never mind the Lover's Rock itself.
In that time much in the World has changed and not necessarily for the better.
The good thing I would say about this album is just that - it's basically the same vibe - just updated with lyrics that match our needs today surrounded as we are by conflict and mutual misunderstanding.
As ever Sade have come up with sophisticated pop, with heartfelt lyrical themes and lithe acoustic guitars often played against snappish synthetic beats. The lead single Soldier Of Love is aurally ornate, with military-issue snare drumming. Be That Easy is feathery country soul, and In Another Time waltzes slow to a minor key. There’s no big-beat single, nor is their any of the all too prevailing auto tune. Strongly recommended.
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