“showstopping musical maximalism at its grandest”
“The British star delivers a 73-minute autobiography of romantic despair and nonstop emotional turmoil. It’s a lot — and all the better for it”
“This Music May Contain Hope is a lavish return from RAYE”
“The British singer’s second album is all curated melancholy and aestheticized heartache, winding its way through jazz, orchestral pop, and R&B with melodramatic flair.”
“a wildly ambitious epic of unbridled self-expression”
“THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. is riddled with musical and conceptual speed bumps.”
“This Music May Contain Hope is the kind of record that doesn’t just play…it lingers. As a fan of RAYE, this feels like the moment where everything she’s been building toward finally clicks into something undeniable. From the first track, you can hear how intentional this album is. The production is cinematic but never overwhelming—jazz, soul, and alternative pop influences blend together in a way that feels both classic and completely modern. It’s the kind of soundscape that lets RAYE’s voice sit front and center, and she absolutely owns every second of it. Her vocal performance here is insane, raw, controlled, emotional, and sometimes all at once in a single verse. Lyrically, this is where the album really hits. There’s a level of honesty that feels almost uncomfortable at times but in the best way. She dives into mental health, addiction, self-worth, and the pressure of the industry with zero filter. You can tell this isn’t just songwriting. It is a release, it is therapy, it is survival. And as a listener, I feel that weight. You’re not just hearing her story, you’re sitting with it. What makes this album so special is how it balances that heaviness with moments of beauty and even subtle hope. The instrumentation will swell just when things feel too heavy, her melodies soften the sharpest lyrics, and somehow you come out of it feeling something close to healing. That’s not easy to pull off, but she does it effortlessly. As a fan, this feels like watching RAYE fully step into her power artistically and personally. There’s no compromise here, no chasing trends, just pure expression. And that authenticity is what makes This Music May Contain Hope hit so hard. This isn’t just one of her best projects. It is one of those albums that reminds you why you love music in the first place.”
“Reviewing 2026 projects: Project: #018 Title: THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE Artist: RAYE Tagline: RAYE's second LP puts on a decent impression. Low lows but really high highs. The album is very strong structurally, using a mix of orchestral sound and digital sound and letting it just sit together to form this album's story-telling identity. The album sounds free-flowing and as if it has space to breathe, it isn't confined, but sometimes it goes a bit too out of bounds, and not in the best ways, like some elements within a song stretching too far that it doesn't fit their corresponding song. The album does feel polished however, everything has an identity and sits with each other pretty well. RAYE's vocal performances are great throughout the album, varying from playful lyrical performances, to some rap-like performances, and some just straight up singing. Production is also great overall. My main issue is that this album does not try to reach out for a wide audience, with a strictly female target audience instead, which is probably why most of it doesn't sit with me too well. And also in my opinion some tracks just feel filler, and un-needed (most ones in the Least Favourites section), but the highs are still really high so that's why the rating is as high as it is. Favourites: Life Boat., Winter Woman., I Will Overcome, Whatsapp Shakespeare Least Favourites: I Hate The Way I Look Today, Beware... The South London Lover Boy., Fields., Fin. Simplified rating: 8/10”
“Things I liked about the album: - I appreciate the big swing - loved the production/ orchestra - the Amy shoutout - some songs (Fields. And Joy. my favourites) - the features from Hans Zimmer and Al Green are iconic What I didn’t like about the album: - far too long (a lot could’ve been edited out I feel) - too much spoken word These two things really made the album feel like a drag at times (I also have to mention the album cover I hate it so much) Overall, I love RAYE for what she stands for and I’m always rooting for her. However, I just don’t think I really connected with it as a record. I can however appreciate the sheer work and effort that went into the album and I do think it’ll be loved by a lot of people. (I’m also loving the orchestral revival in pop atm however every album with orchestral influence in it is going to be compared to LÚX - and no album will compare to that)”
“THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE — RATE 01. I Will Overcome. — 10/10 02. Beware.. The South London Lover Boy. — 9/10 03. The WhatsApp Shakespeare. — 10/10 04. Winter Woman. — 10/10 05. Click Clack Symphony. (feat. Hans Zimmer) — 10/10 06. I Know You're Hurting. — 10/10 07. Life Boat. — 10/10 08. I Hate The Way I Look Today— 7/10 09. Goodbye Henry. (feat. Al Green) — 10/10 10. Nightingale Lane. — 9/10 11. Skin & Bones. — 8/10 12. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! — 10/10 13. Fields. (feat. Grandad Michael) — 7,5/10 14. Joy. (feat. Amma & Absolutely) — 10/10 15. Happier Times Ahead. — 8,5/10 16. Fin. — 8,5/10 Álbum: 9,22/10 Best: Winter Woman Worst:I Hate The Way I Look Today”
“HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: Winter Woman. Click Clack Symphony. I Know You’re Hurting. Goodbye Henry. Fields. Joy. This is not just an impressive sophomore album, and certainly not a cash grab album (even though this album will be on repeat) This album dives into not just hope, but the ideas that may give and take it on a whim. Each lyrics holds deep meaning which listeners can easily resonate with through Raye sharing her personal experiences. The classical and human bond-rich production from Raye’s close coworkers and friends enhance the “hope” already present in the project. This album is an experience of battling with yourself through life’s bullshit and having to learn that through thick and thin, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Just one warning, this music may contain hope.”
“this album may contain grammys, i’m serious such a strong sophomore from RAYE. it feels really intentional, like she knows exactly what she wants to say and how she wants it to land. the range on this is kind of insane too, some songs genuinely feel like church highlights for me were Fields, Skin and Bones, and Click Clack Symphony. she’s just locked in the whole way through honestly i loved it”
“Ni tiene melodías memorables. No tiene un ritmo frecuente No tiene una buena letra destacable No tiene una buena fusión de los sentimientos que expresa Y su público principal no es del todo un gran punto general o por otro lado muy elaborado Pero Tiene una buena producción Tiene una buena combinación al momento Y mantiene una estructura estable dentro del mismo álbum”
“1. Where is my husband! 2. Goodbye henry 3. Lifeboat 4. Beware.. the South London lover boy 5. Click clack symphony 6. Happier times ahead 7. Joy 8. I know you’re hurting 9. Skin & bones 10. Fields 11. Nightingale lane 12. The WhatsApp Shakespeare 13. I will overcome 14. Winter woman 15. Fin 16. Intro: the girl under the grey cloud 17. I hate the way I look today”
