Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea: Digipack

Corinne Bailey Rae's sophomore album is such a leap forward from her self-titled debut the greatest fear has to be that those who tucked into the pink marshmallow of Put Your Records On may just choke on the richer fare on offer here.

References are all to artists and albums that stand out as classics for all time: Curtis Mayfield, 'What's Going On' era Marvin Gaye, and especially Jeff Buckley, whose debut album could have been recorded at any time in the last forty years and yet still sounds contemporary. Oh, and I'm hearing a lot of The Cardigan's first album, 'Life', too... I happen to love that album, it got me over a great heartbreak.

And of course if you know anything about CBR you will know that this is a true heartbreak album. Very few pop musicians - strike that, very few PEOPLE - display the kind of unconditional love that Corinne clearly had for her husband Jason Rae. To have that person taken away from you by an early and accidental death gives one an experience so alien that there is a danger that The Sea (informed by the death of her grandfather as well as her husband) will leave the rest of us staring in at Corinne Bailey Rae from outside the bubble.

That this is not the case is truly remarkable. The music is complex, yet homespun; intelligent AND emotional; deep, yet light. It's all there on display if you want it, but it's also a beautiful piece of music. The other remarkable thing is that the album is self-written without the ubiquitous co-writers of the debut.

Joyfully, the album starts well and after a slightly languid middle section gets better and better. The final triple whammy of Paper Dolls (as disposably fun as it gets), Diving for Hearts (rock!) and The Sea (the pinnacle of Corinne's songwriting so far) leaves one emotionally wrung out in the best possible way.

Some observations: the overall sound of the album is about as far from contemporary RnB as its possible to get: this is music that emanates from a basement, not a computer. I half expected to hear the sounds of coughing and tea cups clinking. While there are 'up' songs and 'down' songs, CBR continues to be a thoughtful songwriter, so there are no easy songs; everything is open and vulnerable, which is not to everyone's taste. Lyrically this English graduate still has some way to go. An album aiming so much higher than the usual fair has its fair share of heroic failues, but this is forgiveable. 'I want you to journey with me/explore all the hidden scenes' is clearly superior in so many ways to 'lick my lollipop', but it's not Wordsworth... yet. Likewise, the melody-writing is not always up to scratch. Feels Like the First Time is largely tune-free after a stonking opening 6 secons that promises way more than the song delivers. But these are minor quibbles. This is a really good album that should stand the test of time.

My greatest hope for this record is that it will move Corinne from the world of faddish 'pop' (she came just after Nora Jones and just before Amy Winehouse) and into a place where she can build a following that will allow her to continue the journey she has begun with this album. Charting a trajectory from Corinne Bailey Rae to The Sea and beyond, we can expect the next album to be something really, really special. For now, this is just very good, a musician's album and a lovers' album. I hope her old fans trust her and that those who may have despised her poppy innocence may discover the beauty and depths of The Sea.

Having been keen on CBR since her amazing appearance on Later with Jools she has followed up the debut album with a mixed bag of melodies that fortunately brings her back into the fold. I felt that after her partners death that she would fade away. Thank God she hasn't. The album starts with Are You Here which is melancholic with a fragility in her voice that is both tender and touching, almost mournful, but the second track I'd do it all again sees her begin to wind up the immense sensitivity in her voice. Tracks 3,4 & 5 are rockier with CBR showing the full range of her talents, shades of blues, shades of soul diva and shades of the torch singer emerge. Closer is an absolute cracker of a track. Fortunately my album/record/CD/MP3 collection features a diversity of music where CBR sometimes epitomises Dionne Warwick, Etta James, Ella Fitz etc with the haunting melodies with fantastic backing musicians. I've now played this album at least a dozen times and each time it gets better.

The tragic background to Corinne Bailey Rae's new album
'The Sea' has been a challenge to her in every possible way.
Her husband Jason Rae's death in 2008 might well have swept her
off course but this exraordinarily brave recording finds her in
darker and more complex musical territory and dealing with her
demons through songs of transcendently raw and honest grace.

Her 2006 eponymous debut album was one of the highlights
of that year. Who could possible forget the pure, lyrical
magic of songs such as 'Like A Star' and 'Butterfly'?

Back in the studio with this collection of eleven new
compositions is both a return to be welcomed but also
an inspiration to anyone who has experienced loss.
She deserves our wholehearted admiration and applause.

The songs are marvellous; her performances grittier and
less polished than her earlier work. There is an immediacy
and spontaneous edge in her voice which drags the soul out
of these deeply personal reflections and brings them to
reverberating life with energy, sadness, anger and love.

It would seem somewhat ignoble to attempt a track by track
dissection of a work of such coherent and bitter-sweet beauty
but also impossible to let the moment pass without mentioning
three songs in particular.

Opening track 'Are You Here', with its sweeping, echoing and
deeply affecting refrain, communicates emotion of such graphic
authenticity that our breath is taken away; the fragile intensity
of her voice on both 'I'd Do It All Again' and title track
'The Sea' takes us deep into the heart of Ms Bailey Rae's grief
and leaves us touched, troubled and inspired in equal measure.

The musical ensemble she has assembled for this self-produced
tour de force acquit themselves with skill and sensitivity but
it is her own unbreakable and dignified presence which gives
this unimpeachable album its awesome power and credibility.

Essential.

a simply gorgeous album , grabs your attention from the first song to the last and leaves you wanting to listen to it over and over again.infact thats all i have been doing since i purchased the cd, the songs are in my head constantly hard to choose a fave but if i had to it would be the sea followed by paris nights. a lot of albums i disregard after a while this aint gonna be one.....love it its just so good..

Whereas CBR's first album was put in the 'pop' category by many, with its bright and breezy tunes, this album is so much more mature and weightier in emotion. For me, it's better for that, more heartfelt and personal.

CBR draws on a greater range of musical influences than previously so there's more to engage with on each listen. In places her voice rises and swells effortlessly and in other places it is entangled and caught in painful undergrowth. This contrast only increases the albums authenticity and connection with the listener. The emotional journey reaches its peak on Love's On Its Way which builds to a great crescendo. There's more noticeable percussion and guitar work to admire on this album than on her debut and the string arrangements where they appear are just delicious.

Given the turbulence of CBR's last few years this is a courageous album that cannot fail to stir the listener. I hope that 'The Sea' reaches the end of 2010 as an album of the year.