Gather Members Review: Corinne Bailey Rae - Lillie's dancing!!

Thanks to Gather, Lillie's been dancing more than usual lately.  What?? I know. She dances all the time! Gather sent us a new cd to review, and it has been in almost constant play in our house since we received it last week.

The cd? A glorious new one, self-titled 'Corinne Bailey Rae.'  We got it, and Lillie ripped the package open (her self-appointed duty), she exclaimed loudly, "mama, she looks like me!!"  What more could one ask for, to have visually intercultural role models? So this week, Lillie's been a little less Princess Sea and a little more Diva.

 Yet there is more – much, much more.  We were entranced from the very first.

Corinne is from the UK – and a smash hit, I found upon doing some initial research. Her website (and her many fan websites) notes that she has gigs playing all over the UK (www.corinnebaileyrae.net). I can't even imagine the pure joy that people must feel in listening to her live. Even on the cd, her incredible voice fills our house, echoing in our bones and souls.  She's from Leeds, and has an eclectic musical background – from singing church music to loving her favorite band, Led Zeppelin.  After college, she worked at a jazz club and started singing there.  To me, the development of her musical talent must have grown leaps and bounds there, since I have loved jazz since I was small, and she absolutely nails it - the jazzy way she sings.

Yet, they term her music blues and soul. What? Yes, she mixes them all in, in a modern way.   From the first a capella notes on her song 'Like a Star,' her pure voice enthralls. At times sassy, spunky, loving, and achingly tender, her songs unfold gracefully, each one leading you to the next seamlessly. The second song, 'Enchantment," is so sexy that I wished for Ed to emerge from his office to dance…a small messenger sent his way persuaded him to come dance with his girls (not so romantic, slow dancing with a four-year old wedged between us, but…).  'Put your Records On' is a bold mixture of funk and pop, inspiring a different kind of dancing, with Lillie taking the lead.  The rhythms in this song are so much fun to listen and dance to.

Her fourth song, 'Till it happens to you,' is a gorgeous ballad that makes your heart ache alongside hers. 'Trouble Sleeping' is a singable song of falling in love – something that we all (hopefully) have experience with. I can imagine that this song will be a very popular song with new lovers – and it has the double bonus of being very catchy. I find myself singing this even when the cd player is off….

'Call Me When You Get This' is a string-enhanced boppy song, with a slightly funky rhythm underneath. 'Choux Pastry Heart,' – well, the title is a draw by itself, isn't it? It's a soulful ballad of love lost, and her choux pastry heart broken.

'Breathless' is a slow song, wondering about future romantic possibilities with a best friend. Her soaring voice, echoing back-up singers, and solid rhythms make this song eminently singable. 'I'd Like To' is a funky song detailing a free childhood and wanting someone to love. 'Butterfly' is a slower song remembering the past, and "giving life like a butterfly." Just beautiful.  The last song, 'Seasons Change,' features Corinne singing about patience and life being a waiting game. I can't imagine that she's waiting for fame any longer, with this extraordinary debut album.

She's immensely talented – she has written/co-written every single song – and there are eleven of them on this album. The pictures show her playing an acoustic guitar, which is a strong component in the musical background (just lovely). She writes and sings about love, to which everyone can relate. Often, I only like a few songs on any given cd. However, Corinne Bailey Rae has put together an eclectic collection of songs that seems to appeal to the many varied musical tastes that I have. I more than highly recommend it – get out to a music store and grab one for yourself. You, too, can diva-dance like Lilllie!