At the Great Escape Festival a few years ago, we heard the stage manager get all excited about a new singer who he was about to introduce onto stage. He said that the artist was a Lancastrian named “Ray Morris.“ And he said that Ray was a great pianist. I imagined, in my head, a type of Gilbert O’Sullivan character would appear. I figured old Ray would walk on stage wearing a canvas cap and braces. Probably dressed as a window cleaner.
But, instead, an angel – as bright as the sun – with an incredibly delicious foam of hair – sensuously wafted over to the keyboards. And she played a set of songs that were so beautifully crafted and so stirring that they caused a lump in the throat. I was hoping that this was the beginning of great things for her. But it seems that it is only now that she is getting the attention she so richly deserves.
We listened to ‘Skins‘ :
The clockwork music box – with the little ballerina – was the forerunner of all modern phonographs and record players – with its cylinder of sound, and tiny comb teeth designed to pick-up the signal. ‘Skin’ starts with that simple ping of ice that emerges from a music box. A metallic pin-prick that pierces the air.
Then a tidy drum gathers things up and urges the song to rustle along.
Afloat, and away from all this like a redtail that shook her feathers and turned tail, the vocal moves towards the sky magnificently. Rae’s voice also reaches deep buttery trenches of low notes at times – maybe not going as low as Kate Bush could do – (or Louisa Rose Allen of ‘Foxes’ for that matter ) – but certainly in that area of modulation. At other times the voice reaches some paper-thin highs. And when it does, it becomes silvery and feathery.
This song creates exceptionally beautiful sensations when the vocal reaches up high enough to join up with the unrestrained strings. And when this happens there is a perfect synergy . A moment of impeccable majesty. Like a trapped spirit finally free to float away in triumph. From a skin.
Words & Images by @neilmach © 2014
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/raemorrisblackpool
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