STILL remembered for her glorious breakthrough hits Like A Star and Put Your Records On, Leeds-born Corinne Bailey Rae’s career started with an auspicious recommendation from the BBC’s music critics as the most promising new act of 2006.
Indeed, her self-titled debut album was nominated for three Grammy awards, three Brits and a won brace of MOBO awards. A former undergraduate of the University of Leeds, Bailey Rae received an honorary doctorate from her college in 2011.
However, due to well-publicised personal issues, new music has been thin on the ground. Indeed, The Heart Speaks In Whispers is only the third full studio album in a decade, coming a good six years after the rather dark and distinctly uncomfortable collection known as The Sea.
The Heart Speaks In Whispers is a far more varied and infinitely more enjoyable affair. From the instant candy of The Skies Will Break, to R’n’B funk on Green Aphrodisiac and a gorgeous stripped-back ballad Hey I Won’t Break Your Heart, this is a collection honed by a hit-savvy troubadour.
Well worth checking out is the optimistic Walk On, an inspirational tale encouraging the listener to survive when times seem to get too rough. Many will be pleased to hear Corinne Bailey Rae back on track.
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