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When Corinne Bailey Rae told us to put a record on two years ago, her careless abandon was infectious.

Now, four years later, the English soul singer has more than one dimension to share with the world.

On her second album, The Sea, Rae continues to sing about love, but it’s not as blissful this time around.

Her emotions are more complicated, her songs more interesting.

Yet the most distinctive change is the undeniable divide between the moods of the songs.

That’s because Rae’s husband, Jason, died of an overdose in 2008, in the midst of recording sessions for The Sea.

Both sides of The Sea – somber and celebratory – accordingly present life as Rae knows it.

Proving Rae’s staying power as a lyricist, however, songs range from seductive to reflective – sometimes all in the same four minutes, as in “Closer.”

 

 

But Jason’s absence is undeniable her Rae’s music. It’s clear which songs were written before his death and which were written after.

The opener, “Are You Here,” charged with guitar, addresses how Jason’s death has changed Rae: “It’s hard to recall the taste of summer/When everywhere around, the chill of winter/It gets so far away.”

Fortunately, not all the songs on The Sea are elegiac.

The second single, “Paris Nights/New York Mornings,” may be the most exciting song Rae has ever recorded.

With a live drum and an enchanting vocal, Rae exceeds the strength of her debut by miles and could easily expect another Grammy nomination – she has won two of six – by 2011.

Even the contemplative lyrics of “Paper Dolls” don’t damper Rae’s spirit, as the song follows on the catchy coattails of “Paris Nights,” with a danceable beat and an unforgettable guitar lick. Its only downfall: Rae’s moody vocal can’t keep up with the beat of the drum.

At least Rae can keep up with her own emotions, which range from questioning to confident, throughout the rollercoaster ride of The Sea.