★★★★☆
Rae Morris’ debut album is long overdue, having been signed by Atlantic in 2012 and heralded as one of the sounds of 2015 by Radio 1 Introducing. Her upbringing in Blackpool is evident in Unguarded’s dark, melancholy feel – perfect to accompany a lone walk along the stormy pier.
The majority of the songs are slow and sad, which suits her breathy, mournful voice. Her first single, ‘Don’t Go’, is perhaps the most sorrowful. It is lyrically elegant, and would be ideal for those moments when you feel hopelessly sorry for yourself, and need a song to match your mood. The title track, ‘Unguarded’, carries the album forward, combining both the mournful and the more positive, showcasing another of Morris’ talents. These songs have the benefit of being romantically minded, with neither the sickly sweetness nor the dire heartache of other young singer/songwriters; striking that delicately poised balance.
However, there are also more catchy songs to hook in the listener – such as ‘Under the Shadows’ – which combine the familiar mournful voice with a more enthusiastic background beat, and ‘Cold’ sung with Fryars. The album would benefit from a sharper focus on the more interesting side of Morris shown in these two tracks, for it is slightly overcome by melancholy, but overall, it is a debut to be commended.
