RAYE - THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. Album Review
- Olivia Hanson
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 5
by Olivia Hanson
It’s been exactly one week since British singer-songwriter RAYE released her sophomore album, THIS ALBUM MAY CONTAIN HOPE., which effortlessly blends together elements of various genres. The result? A masterpiece that explores themes of heartbreak, identity, and, of course, hope. If you enjoyed LUX by Rosalía, then RAYE’s symphonic album will certainly have a place in your collection.
In an interview with Melodic Magazine, RAYE explains that music is a medicine that she seeks to share with listeners. She executes this by dividing the album into four sections, each of which represents a different season through unique sounds and emotions. This larger-than-life album commands your full attention, so grab a box of tissues, eliminate any distractions, and get ready to listen to all 75 minutes from beginning to end.
The very first track, “Intro: Girl Under The Grey Cloud.,” sets the scene for us. Here, RAYE poetically paints a picture of a woman on a drunken walk back to her hotel after another lonely night out. Thoughts swirl through her mind, coming together to create the storm she’ll face in the songs that follow.
Within this same picture, we officially enter the autumn of this album. In “I Will Overcome.,” RAYE sings about the hate she’s received, comparing it to that of Amy Winehouse. The title becomes a mantra for the protagonist as she enters the storm, but as the instrumental intensity rises towards the end of the song, you start to wonder if she actually believes what she’s saying. It’s as though she wants nothing more than to believe these words, and yet they still feel uncertain.
Three tracks and two cautionary tales later, we enter winter. With “Winter Woman.,” RAYE adopts an icy persona to protect herself from the pain of heartbreak. What stood out to me was the inclusion of Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons. As a classical musician, it was a wonderful choice that proves every aspect of this album was intentional.
As if the orchestral arrangements so far weren’t enough, RAYE brings on the Hans Zimmer for the sixth track, “Click Clack Symphony.” I particularly loved this one because it reminded me of all of the close female friendships I have. It’s so special to have friends like the ones in this song who will see when you’re hurting and do what they can to bring some joy back into your life. This is also one of the first songs where we see a glimmer of genuine hope in the story. Over a Hans Zimmer composition that elicits full-body chills, RAYE refers back to the coldness of “Winter Woman.,” with a new outlook, stating, “The cold never lasts, my darling // It just teaches the heart how to burn.”
Leaving winter, we come into the third act of the album: spring. Though this is the season of new beginnings, many of the songs here talk about endings. In “Goodbye Henry.,” RAYE sings of a relationship that ended not because of any big event, but simply because it wasn’t meant to be. It’s in this song that we start hearing external voices of hope. In this case, it’s from legendary soul singer Al Green, who’s had his shares of goodbyes. He comforts RAYE, telling her that the pain won’t last forever.
The theme of reflection continues in the album’s climactic track, “Nightingale Lane.” This song melts the icy armor from “Winter Woman.” and reveals all the emotions she held back during this heartbreak. Here, however, she’s able to inch closer to peace and realize that, “Somebody loved me once // And someday, somebody will again.” It’s the epitome of seeing the end of the storm, the light at the end of the tunnel. RAYE can finally see the hope on the horizon.
And just like that, hope is visible as the album enters summer. Things feel more lighthearted as she takes a more playful approach to her love life in the album’s first single “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” She slows down momentarily for a long overdue conversation with her grandfather in “Fields.,” who once again provides her with optimistic reassurance that she will be okay. Although it is similar, this advice feels different than Al Green’s in the previous act. It’s the simple delivery from a person who’s known every version of you which makes it that more special, and that much harder to listen to without shedding a tear.
The ending of the album feels like the curtain call of a musical, with its whimsical instrumentals and words of gratitude. In “Fin.,” she poetically summarizes the themes of the album, saying, “The sun has promised to shine all four beautiful seasons, even if we can’t see it.” I particularly admired how she used the last four minutes of the album to individually credit every person who helped make it. It might seem small to some, but it truly shows RAYE’s gratitude and humility.
After my first listen, I genuinely had no words. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time an album left me this speechless. I’m typically not a huge fan of songs that have a lot of speaking, but RAYE executed it so well that it felt like I was watching her perform this album live. It was the perfect balance of spoken poetry and instrumentals that seep into your soul. The stories in this album prompt reflection, whether you want them to or not. They’ll make you think of times your life felt like a wintry storm. Then, just as quickly, they’ll remind you that the sun was always there, waiting for you on the other side.
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