Corinne Bailey Rae released her fourth album, “Black Rainbows,” a bold R&B and rock-infused project and her first album in seven years. Although the long period in between music releases might hinder some artists, it is clear the seven years of private musical evolution has culminated perfectly into the brilliance that is Rae’s most recent effort.
The near 45–minute album is liberating, inspired and transformative. “Black Rainbows” is unafraid to be gritty in the humanity, hope and pain that fuels the topic matter, as well as in its spunky, yet sensual, production. The intricate focus clearly put on placing these songs in the right order on the tracklist helps enhance the listening experience.
The intro track, “A Spell, A Prayer,” is bombastic and bold, starting with a few sparse string instruments and some chimes and gradually swelling into a modern rock symphony. The song itself discusses embracing what history teaches and the feelings that it brings while simultaneously reminding the audience to dig deeper into their history. This thematic premise makes the production of the song act in conjunction with the lyrics cleverly. The production at the end of the song drops out, only leaving the individual elements of the song, a drum and a bell to conclude the song.
“Earthlings” expresses a suave and funky type of hope that mostly focuses on fun and optimism for the future. The track is one of the more relaxed, low-key tracks but is by no means a filler. It is a nice three-and-a-half-minute breather that prepares for the more serious topic matter to come. To revel in this release of tension so soon is unexpected, but that only makes the track more enjoyable.
The constant twists and turns taken on this tracklist all work together to form a cohesive and moving story as it moves past the introductory tracks.
Empowerment and rage intertwine powerfully in the song “Erasure,” which tackles the trauma that is felt within the Black community from oppressive systems, such as slavery and bigoted people. The vocals on this track are rock-style and abrasive, which perfectly matches the justified rage Rae expresses on this track. To counteract the anger depicted in “Erasure,” “Peach Velvet Sky” narrates a more hopeful and bittersweet side of an overall dark time in American history. The track is inspired by the real-life story of abolitionist Harriet Jacobs, who described a sunset she saw when she was free after many years of being enslaved.
Rae also allowed herself to be raw in her experiences with womanhood, more specifically as a Black woman, on the track “He Will Follow You With His Eyes” where she challenges Western beauty standards. Rae does this in a manner that is invigorating, having the song start with a more orchestra-based, classical-European atmosphere that gradually becomes more modern as the song progresses; this mirrors the lyrics that first reflect traditional beauty standards, then later shift to Rae fully embracing her own beauty and the features that many Black women have. “My plum red lipstick / My black hair kinking / My black skin gleaming,” Rae sings with passion.
“New York Transit Queen” has the energy of a feminine anthem that celebrates the work ethic and readiness of young women. This song has the same conviction found in many 1980s pop-rock songs and the track is a song anyone can dance to at a booming concert.
Intimacy and romance arise thematically at the halfway point of the setlist. On “Red Horse,” Rae describes a fairytale-style romance of soulmates, a worthwhile wait and family, with a lyrical western flair. The song utilizes a heartbeat sound and whimsical, ethereal chimes. The romance not only stands well on its own, but after many songs that break down societal issues, it also serves as a reminder of the bright future that can occur if said society comes together and fights off hatred.
“Black Rainbows” divulges all expectations and tells a tale of generational trauma and hope through ten tracks of pure production-based bliss. Even with songs that go over eight minutes, no moment on this tracklist goes to waste. Furthermore, some of the album’s uniqueness arises from songs that repeat the same few sets of lyrics while using atmospheric production to do the heavy lifting of the storytelling.
Rae is courageous and confident in what she sings and produces, and her well-thought-out story makes this album one of the most unforgettable works to be released this decade.
