After selling over four million albums worldwide, Corinne Bailey Rae returns with The Sea. A somewhat darker and certainly more experimental album that falls somewhere between Singer/Songwriter and soulful Pop. Bailey Rae co-produced the album alongside Steve Brown and Steve Chrisanthou.
The British songstress has assembled a new band for this record and the difference is certainly notable. “Are You Here?” is a contemplative number that slinks it’s way into your psyche very, very slowly. It has the potential to explode but instead opts for a more reserved drama that fans of her first album will look fondly on. “Feels Like the First Time” is a dark, piano led piece that is both soulful and eerie, a combination that grew on me the more I listened but sounded awkward at first. Its backside, “The Blackest Lily,” is easily the highlight of the album and provides a much needed infusion of energy. Both songs have a slight Disco undertone if you really dig, which I found tremendously interesting. “Paper Dolls” is an upbeat number and Bailey Rae is vocally at her most interesting on it, making it an album highlight for certain. The swaying and emotive title track is a highlight as well and is particularly profound in the wee hours of the night.
Overall, The Sea is fairly mediocre. Aside from two, arguably three, tracks the album gets lost in the slow pace. Bailey Rae has a great voice but we rarely get to hear it expand and breathe life into the sounds around it. The Sea is pretty experimental musically for a Pop record but its leader sounds reluctant to take it where it has the potential to go. The Sea is a whole new beast for Bailey Rae and I’m not convinced she has tamed it just yet.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
