Raye independently released her sophomore album, titled “THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.” on March 27. The album is a truly unique, over the top masterpiece that incorporates countless genres and powerhouse vocals to create an authentic narrative of a woman scorned, transporting listeners perfectly into Raye’s state of mind. Raye demonstrates her musical prowess on all fronts, encapsulating a truly raw and human experience, forcibly plunging listeners into her shoes. Her narrative evolves from a deceptively upbeat place of betrayal to a unifying message of freedom and acceptance. This album feels like Raye’s bared soul in 73 minutes.
1. Intro: Girl Under the Grey Cloud.:
Raye begins her album with a signature spoken interlude, setting the scene for an eerily poetic and intimate experience. Her words flow with ease, showcasing her ability to craft rhymes and create a vivid image of the journey ahead.
2. I will Overcome.:
This song is a masterpiece. Raye explores dynamics, intensity, rhythm and vowel emphasis to create a cinematic experience. From the use of her lower range to her attention to detail, every element is carefully crafted to immerse listeners in her world. It’s a show-stopping combination of a satisfying build-up, powerhouse vocals and narrative excellence. I especially enjoyed how Raye’s voice sounded strained and raspy, proving that her emotions are authentic.
3. Beware.. The South London Lover Boy.:
Raye incorporates elements of jazz, blues, pop and rap to create this ironic, catchy hit. She is able to address a difficult subject while still making an iconic chorus that’s fun and unique. The witty refrain of “girls stay safe out there,” is underscored by a humorous tone to revolutionize her serious messages.
4. The WhatsApp Shakespeare.:
This song is addictive. Raye proved herself to be the master of musical intensity and exposition. The combination of Raye’s haunting vocals, descriptive lyrics and unpredictable twists makes this song a show-stopping hit. It’s the catchiest of the bunch, engrossing the audience with electronic pop that shifts into jazzy blues and then a classical musical component with elements of opera. Raye’s shift following “I was one of seven other leading ladies/Starring in the new romantic thriller,” was shocking and makes this song one of my favorites.
5. Winter Woman.:
Raye describes complex emotions with accuracy and beauty, painting a perfect picture of an experience integral to girlhood. Her lyrics are poetic and introspective, and the twists in genre with the classical orchestra background and eerie Weeknd-esque electro elements make this song unlike anything I’ve ever heard. This song doesn’t give listeners a chance to catch their breath, it just keeps delivering, ultimately curating a multi-faceted, visceral depiction of beautiful grief.
6. Click Clack Symphony. (featuring Hans Zimmer):
Raye is the only one who could pull off this musical masterpiece. Based on the beat of high heeled steps, she makes this feminine ballad an instant classic with lyrics at a breakneck speed. I almost felt like I was listening to “Hamilton,” with the masterful rhymes and shockingly fast lyrics that accompanied powerful melodies. Raye unifies women with her inspirational lyrics; it feels like she’s building an empire as she breaks the fourth wall. This song breaks the barrier between art and experience, forcing listeners to not only resonate with Raye’s message but to feel her grief alongside her.
7. I Know You’re Hurting.:
Raye begins this song with technical imperfections, a strained voice that sounds raw and tight from intense emotions. The pace, similar to the rest of the album, is unpredictable and ever-fluctuating, making this song truly interesting to listen to. From an emotional perspective, Raye encapsulates the beautiful moments of grief and beauty in pain. This was easily one of my favorite songs on the album.
8. Life Boat.:
This is the only song that I didn’t love on the album. It feels repetitive and overly auto-tuned. The concept behind it was interesting, but the execution simply wasn’t on par with the lyrical genius and emotional complexity of the other songs. It’s necessary to progress the story, but it feels like skippable exposition that could be described in a more interesting way.
9. I Hate The Way I Look Today.:
Originally, this song gave me a bad case of second-hand embarrassment. Raye describes the experience of feeling ugly head-on. She scats and spirals and encapsulates this unique feeling in such a realistic and honestly funny way. I feel like this was the best way to face this topic, by incorporating the ridiculousness of the subject into the song.
10. Goodbye Henry. (featuring Al Green):
Raye provides a sound that reminds me of a classic “La la land” number. Her lyrics were ironic and funny, making her pain relatable and fun. It’s refreshing to see an artist who doesn’t sacrifice their authenticity to sound cool; her personality shines through in all of her music. Al Green was an unexpected addition to the song, but he made sure that both of their souls were barred and open for this song.
11. Nightingale Lane.:
Raye’s vocals were simply astounding in “Nightingale Lane.” She hits notes with intensity and visceral emotion. Her vocals in this sound are actually unearthly, to the point where I was forced to stop what I was doing and just listen. This song was the best demonstration of Raye’s vocal talent.
12. Skin & Bones.:
“Skin and Bones” brings energy and sass to create a feminist anthem. The lyrics are funny and relatable, tied up in a bow with Raye’s theatrical vocals. This wasn’t my favorite song on the album, as it was a little repetitive, but it still was fun and unique.
13. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!:
This powerhouse leading single is energetic and catchy, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. It’s already received numerous nominations for various awards, including a Certified Platinum award in the UK. I do think that it’s been somewhat overplayed, but that doesn’t take away from its expertise and magnitude.
14. Fields. (featuring Grandad Michael):
Although somewhat out of place, this song adds the first pause in a rapidly paced album. Raye’s spoken lyrics are reflective and personal, offering perspective and nostalgia wrapped in choral perfection and storytelling closure.
15. Joy. (featuring Amma & Absolutely):
This upbeat and jazzy masterpiece is an adventure to listen to. It leaps from deceptively described sadness to quick cameos from the singer’s sisters to a climactic, musically satisfying chorus reprisal finale. Raye is running on pure willpower to adjust the threads of reality to fearlessly champion her joy and hope with this ethereal addition.
16. Happier Times Ahead.:
This song begins like a coffeehouse, brassy jazz number. But Raye makes this genre her own with unpredictable tonal shifts and an accompanying orchestra that makes her scatting and spoken interludes shine.
17. Fin.:
Raye literally breaks the fourth wall in a truly cinematic way, with a wryly humorous yet hopeful message of, “for it’s life’s guarantee that we’re all going to die, come rain or come storms, we’ve got one little life.” She then finishes with roughly 5 minutes of spoken credits with an orchestra backtrack. I think that in any other album I’d hate this, but in such a personal and special album, this was a much-needed ending. The album was an otherworldly experience that honestly required an actual finale and credits, just like a film.
“THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE,” was honestly one of the best albums I’ve ever listened to. Raye’s storytelling is unmatched, and I applaud her for her authenticity and vulnerability. Her description of complex emotions is made beautiful, relatable and truly unique. This album was unforgettable, and I eagerly await Raye’s future music and well-deserved recognition.
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