The second album from Muscle Shoals, Alabama rock band Rob Aldridge and The Proponents is a fusion of southern rock, riotous blues and hook-filled soul. Review by Declan Culliton Rob Aldridge & The Proponents Mind Over Manners Self-Release But rest assured, with one song tumbling effortlessly into the next, this is a standout album, very much of its time. Lovers of Rae’s previous work may not have seen this coming, I certainly did not. She put that period to good use, resulting in an album of musical styles from different times and locations, lyrically impressive, beautifully arranged, and presented by the possessor of a unique voice. Like so many others, the pandemic presented Rae with the opportunity to wind down and reflect. Modern Woman, the first single from the album, celebrates the advancement in what is considered ‘gender normal.’ The self-explanatorily titled Lighten Up and Try was co-written with close friend and neighbour Andrew Combs. From a likewise similar comes the contemplative Drift Away. Written at the onset of the pandemic, Rae’s unhurried layered vocals on this song reflect the slowing down process of that time and the scope for personal reflection. That decade is also brought to mind on the vibrant Candy and Curry. The radio friendly True Love’s Face, flirts with the U.K.
It’s also a change in her songwriting direction, abandoning the self-analysis of her previous work and replacing it with more positivity and an endorsement of simply accepting the hand that one is dealt.Īwash with silky strings, the Scott Walker influence is unmistakable on the quite beautiful Cosmic Sigh. Cramming on the music of a diverse range of artists, including Kevin Ayers, Scott Walker, Judee Sill, Feist, Gene Clark, and Jesse Winchester, drew Rae out of her comfort zone, the result being this twelve-track album that embodies a range of styles from baroque pop to indie rock, together with some country folk inclusions. Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Roy Harper, Conor Oberst), who oversaw the production, invited Rae to his Wilson's Five Star Studios to record in February 2021. Her somewhat more experimental latest album was recorded at California’s Topanga Canyon. PUTTING ON AIRS followed suit, while also further reinforcing her reputation as a songwriter of note. Its core sound was very much Laurel Canyon country folk of the purest kind, introducing a singer possessing a striking vocal range. In a previous life, she fronted the indie-folk band Erin Rae and The Meanwhiles, whose studio album SOON ENOUGH was released in 2015, having been recorded live over a two-day period. Jackson, Mississippi, born Erin Rae has been an integral part of the East Nashville music community for several years, and LIGHTEN UP is her second solo recording following her fine debut album PUTTING ON AIRS from 2018.