Corinne Bailey Rae

Sometimes you just have to take something at face value, operating on the assumption that what you see is what you get. The first time I saw Corinne Bailey Rae, I thought, “OK, another cute Brit nu-soul singer, ho hum.” Then I listened. And kept listening. Now, with the release of this nicely filmed live concert, we can all listen and look. But there’s very little to look at once the initial image sinks in, as the very straightforward performance is captured but rarely goes beyond the static shots of the singer, the band, the staging, back to the singer. Musically, what’s most impressive about Rae’s live show is the purity and control in her voice. No “auto tune” here, folks, just a great singer who delivers some sweet and comforting songs with a disarming smile. And the CD included in the packet gives you all the same songs, just from a different show. What you see is what you get. 3 stars