RAYE - This Music May Contain Hope. (Album Review)
Thursday, 02 April 2026
Written by Laura Mills
Photo: Aliyah Otchere
Given RAYE’s established status as one of the pre-eminent voices in pop, it’s odd to think of ‘This Music May Contain Hope’ as a levelling up, but that’s exactly what it is. An album packed full of emotion, with musical versatility and lyrical relatability, this is the vocalist’s finest work to date and, surely, catnip for awards panels in the coming months.
The opening tracks are bound together by a vibe that emerges from the spoken word of Intro: Girl Under The Grey Cloud, which seamlessly transitions into I Will Overcome. There are echoes of the preceding monologue here but the narrative quickly changes, refocusing on the press treatment of Amy Winehouse, an artist RAYE is often compared to vocally.
RAYE looks at online bile while acknowledging people don’t think she’ll ever reach Winehouse’s level: “And it's funny / some people say I remind them of Amy / some spit through their keyboards I’ll never amount.”
Her response to that idea is made clear in standouts tracks such as Beware.. The South London Lover Boy, a tonal shift that introduces cabaret flair and a burlesque style through its beats and harmonies. It demonstrates how strong RAYE is vocally and how easily she can change up her approach to suit different genres.
Another such moment is Click Clack Symphony, featuring the composer Hans Zimmer. The song crackles with bad bitch energy and relatable references to girlhood, with a top tier performance from RAYE pulling the two threads together into something remarkable. Elsewhere, the soulful ballad Goodbye Henry and the catchy pop of Where Is My Husband help to sculpt a faultless effort from a star who’s here to stay.
Raye Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue May 19 2026 - LONDON O2 Arena
Wed May 20 2026 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sat August 01 2026 - BRIGHTON Preston Park
Sat August 29 2026 - READING Richfield Avenue
Sun August 30 2026 - LEEDS Bramham Park
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