My 21st Century Blues

アデルも称賛するUKのアーティストRAYE、その才能が開花した傑作!
シングル「Escapism.」がTIKTOKで火が付きUKチャート1位を記録、ビルボード・チャートでも上昇し世界的ブレイクが期待されるRAYE。元々はチャーリーXCX、ビヨンセ、エリー・ゴールディングらに曲を提供するなどソングライターとして実績を重ね、'20年にはメジャーから作品を発表。しかし、21年にはメジャーから離れ独立独歩の道を選び、シングル「Escapism.」のヒットを経て遂に発表された1stフルアルバムが今作。痛みを伴う経験を吐露しながらもチャーミングさを失わないバラエティに富んだ楽曲と歌声が素晴らしい1枚。注目です。 (C)商品本部:狩野 卓永

My 21st Century Blues was a vindicating triumph for RAYE weeks before it was released. The advance single "Escapism" topped the U.K. pop chart, giving the newly independent singer/songwriter her greatest commercial success after severing ties with Polydor. The label had signed her to a four-album deal and after six years had yet to green-light the first LP. Increasingly frustrated by artistic compromise as her scattered singles, featured appearances, and songwriting credits for other artists continued to pile up, RAYE fought free and justified her demand for autonomy with a theatrical smash hit about an impulsive night out in the wake of a bad relationship. RAYEs debut album does have the feel of a mixtape with its abrupt changes in production style and subjects. In a way, it comes across simultaneously as an outpouring of creativity and the clearing of a backlog, maybe a prelude to something more refined and focused. Whatever the case, no list of recordings that shine a light on either industry woes or survivorship will be complete without it. Take the defiant, strutting "Hard Out Here," with RAYE nimbly scoffing, "All the white men CEOs, f*ck your privilege/Get your pink chubby hands off my mouth, f*ck you think this is?" More poignant is the chilling ballad "Ice Cream Man," detailing an incident with a sexual predator posing as a supportive producer, followed by RAYE revealing much more: "And I was seven, was 21, was 17, and was 11/It took a while to understand what my consent means/If I was ruthless, theyd be in the penitentiary." The chorus begins with an understatement: "Cause Im a woman/Im a very brave, f*cking strong woman." "Black Mascara," the albums lone sleek and uptempo dance track, is addressed to a man who spiked her drink. Even the songs about distant lovers and everyday jerks have a more personal quality to them than much of what RAYE released before. Not without reason did she place a possessive determiner in the title of this album. None of these uninhibited songs could have been half as convincing voiced by another singer. That said, its evident that shes using her platform to speak for others who have lived through anything remotely similar. ~ Andy Kellman

ブリット・スクールを中退してデビューし、英米を跨いでの客演やコライトでも注目を集めていた英ロンドンのシンガー/ソングライターが、インディーから再出発して放つ初フル・アルバム。8年近くを過ごした音楽業界への不満や怒り、身体醜形障害などの経験に基づいてメンタルヘルスやエンパワーメントを謳うアルバムは、マイク・サバスを中心に、ブラッドポップやスティーヴン・マクレガーらが制作にあたり、ダンス・ビートを基調に、ブルース、R&B、ハウス、トリップホップなどの音楽要素がモザイクのように入り乱れる。歌の表情も実に多彩だ。070シェイクやマヘリアとも相見え、終盤では爽快なメロウ・ポップ"Worth It"で空気を変え、"Buss It Down"では聖なるクワイアを従えながら性愛を歌う。大ブレイクの予感。
bounce (C)林 剛