Review: Corinne Bailey Rae – The Heart Speaks In Whispers

Her roots are in 90s alternative rock, but singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae has found her voice as a solo artist with more soulful undertones since the days with her female indie band Helen. She continues to be empowered by the many feminist artists across music and literature who express themselves through their individual spirit aside from what commercial standards dictate. In a recent press interview she reflected, “It’s really important in music to not chase the ‘now’ sounds but to follow your muse. It takes a lot of confidence to do that.” In 2006 her self-titled debut garnered multi-platinum and award-winning success with singles “Like A Star” and “Put Your Records On”. The sophomore album of the Leeds-born songstress, The Sea, was released in 2010 following the death of her first husband, saxophonist Jason Rae. Inspired by the music of Sly And The Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen and Nina Simone, The Sea was recorded with a live band and produced hits “Closer” and “I’d Do It All Again”.

Now, ten years after her debut, Corinne Bailey Rae returns with her third album, entitled The Heart Speaks In Whispers. She’s described the album as experimental and a real exploration of instinct, nature, love, and the subconscious. As a person who’s endured pain and triumphantly come out through the other side, her work remains honest, open-hearted and joyous. When she was writing the album she realized that an important step for her was in quieting down everything that was around her and really listen to what was going on inside to connect with that. She wanted to reflect on the way all of her experiences impact on her, and shape her into the person that she is. In many interviews she discusses how important it is to listen to your own voice. Listening to the inner voice, she believes, can get to the truth of what’s really going on while teaching us more about ourselves.

The Heart Speaks In Whispers was written and produced with her current husband, Steve Brown, who has been a longtime friend and collaborator. It’s been amazing how their relationship has transformed from friendship to creative and business partners and then to marriage. After the passing of her first husband, there was a stillness and silence that Corinne felt, as if her life had ended as well, given what they had together. But in that grief she experienced a great amount of kindness and empathy from people, largely whom she didn’t know, which connected them through their similar experiences. With family and friends showing incredible patience and love, the last few years have allowed the volume of her life to be turned back up, and the colors to return as she continues to create. The heaviness has lifted and she is in a place of lightness and joy, which she considers miraculous. The miracles of life show up as themes on the album through songs that exude hope and resilience.

“The Skies Will Break” creates a mantra out of positive aspirational repetitive lyrics quoting the album’s title built into a swelling soundscape of melodies, instruments and electronic sounds. The lead single, “Been To The Moon”, is a funky dance hit accompanied by a striking video of Bailey Rae cast as an astronaut in desert couture as high fashion. The song ends on a lovely improvisational jazz note with the horn section providing a reprise of the chorus melody. “Tell Me” is a mashup of handclaps, haunting organ and whimsical vocals with a backbone of Caribbean rhythms, perhaps a nod to her father who is from Saint Kitts. “Stop Where You Are” is one of the singles with a message of being present and in the moment while taking time out to celebrate ‘the now’. So often in life we hold off for something to occur in the future in hopes that a particular circumstance will impact our ability to experience fullness and happiness. When the single “Green Aphrodisiac” begins, I immediately think of a great tune called “Poetry” by Roy Hargrove from Hard Groove – The RH Factor but as I continue listening the song unfolds into its own soulful work of art that Corinne owns.

The album moves through its cheeky girl so much in love moments as well as its lover pining for clarity in the relationship moments. There’s poignancy in vulnerable songs like “Caramel” and “Walk On”, the introspective lyrics which came before she even realized that she was writing a new album. “Walk On” proves to be another self-affirming mantra that enabled her to reach this new plateau of happiness and light. It’s been six years since her last album, and Corinne Bailey Rae has truly been living the experiences of which she writes. Being inspired by the LA music scene with artists like Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Moses Sumney, J*Davey and Kendrick Lamar has allowed her to approach her music in an inventive way. She’s felt at home there letting the muse determine the form and direction of The Heart Speaks In Whispers. She gave herself the space and freedom to write in an instinctive way and learned how to be the producer of her own sound. Feeling that we’re living in a really interesting music moment in history, she appreciates how artists are collaging a lot of elements and threads of past works and making something new out of it. “We all have so much power and wisdom that we sometimes don’t even realize.”

 
Written by Mai Perkins

Originally from Los Angeles, Mai Perkins is living a genuine bona fide love affair with NYC and the music that keeps its spirit moving. While spending the majority of the last decade in Brooklyn, many of her adventures around the globe are documented on her blog: Mai On The Move! www.MaiOnTheMove.com

 
Author’s rating for The Heart Speaks In Whispers

Pop Magazine’s official rating for The Heart Speaks In Whispers

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure