From a fairytale, the life of young British singer Corinne Bailey Rae suddenly turned into a nightmare. One day in March 2008, she received a call that the man she had married six years earlier, saxophonist Jason Rae, had been found dead with a friend. An overdose of drugs had killed him. Two years before, Corinne had made a big breakthrough with her self-titled debut (and the feel-good hit Put Your
… Records On). The album sold more than four million copies worldwide. The repercussions of all the violent experiences are recorded on The Sea, Bailey Rae's second album, which is released almost two years after the fateful event. Are You Here is an impressive opener, deeper and more sombre than we are used to from her. In other songs (Paris Nights / New York Mornings) the sun seems to start shining again. A brave, at times strong record that sometimes seems a bit unbalanced due to the changing moods. She has been forgiven. (MS)more
