By Ekaterina Marenkov (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: July 1, 2015
Wait, is that Ellie Goulding? No? Is it Florence Welsh then?
The first time I heard Rae Morris’ debut album, Unguarded, I swore her sound was as if, in some alternative universe, Ellie and Flo had a lovechild. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. The title of the album, Unguarded, refers to human vulnerability, and Rae Morris creatively exposes and explores this subject in the album’s 12 wispy tracks.
Rae’s sound is not terribly exciting or original to the music industry, but it’s exactly what all the chic hipsters are listening to right now. Most of the tunes have a mellow feel to them, apart from her song “Love Again,” which is more mainstream and reminds me of every Coldplay song released after 2010. The variety of sounds don’t range all over the grid, as Morris mostly stuck to ballads, but some tracks worth praising for their originality are “Morne Fortuné,” for its uniquely classical yet electronic sound; “Skin,” for the breathtaking music video and melancholic lyrics; “From Above,” for best representing the title of the album, its lyrics pouring revelation; and the title track, for featuring wind chimes and incredible depth in sound.
However, my favourite song on the album is “Cold” because of the wistful lyrics, video presentation, and vocals. “Cold” is a conversation between Rae and Benjamin “Fryars” Garrett, the featuring artist. They speak of a relationship that has lost its former passion, with the opening line, sung by Fryars, deciding, “Your eyes aren’t pretty anymore.” Sadly, this is the reality for many couples who grow to hate the things they once loved about their partner. Within the video there are two colours: Rae and her female dancers wear maroon outfits while everything else is grey and depressing. Everything is stoic — including the dancing, which is rigid and in unison. “Cold” captures detachment in relationships perfectly.
Rae still has lots of potential, but overall, Unguarded is strong for a debut album. I’m eager to see how over time Rae’s sound will evolve as she creates her own niche within the music industry.
