Experimental soul as an artistic exploration tool. The British woman explores herself and her approach to her own origins.
Corinne Bailey Rae, born in Leeds in 1979, has often been associated with jazz pop. In 2006 her debut album reached number 1 in the UK album charts; After that, things unfortunately went downhill in terms of success. Her contribution to the soundtrack of the film “Fifty Shades Of Gray” (2017) helped her to be more noticed again, but this brief flash of success turned into an artistic trap because she subsequently found it difficult to sharpen her own profile. Bailey Rae struggles with her talents and her beauty. As a lyricist and outstanding singer, she wants to be more than just a marketable fringe figure in the neo-soul cosmos. Their new album finally goes beyond simply celebrating vocal skills and allows encrusted structures to crumble.
For BLACK RAINBOW, she was inspired by the objects and happenings at the Stony Island Arts Bank, a museum of African-American culture in Chicago’s most run-down neighborhood, founded by artist Theaster Gates. Inspired by years of exchange with him and his visions, ten pieces were created, each of which is a small, experimental work of art. The opener “A Spell, A Prayer” already impresses with its opulence. Sometimes rhythmically aggressive (“Black Rainbows”), sometimes elegiac and gentle (“Peach Velvet Sky”), Rae impressively explores her possibilities of expression and becomes a musical museum guide. It’s not chart-worthy, but every track shines and surprises.