Latest CD releases reviewed

MARK RAE
Into the Depths Grand Central
***

It was obvious to even the most casual listener that Mark Rae's début solo album, Rae Road, led him to much the same neck of the woods that he'd already explored as one half of Rae & Christian. This time out, Rae has drafted a new map and he seems happy to fuse his tried-and-tested beats knowledge with more organic rock-soul vibes. What this means in practice is that vintage equipment and flesh-and-blood musicians come together along Rae's ley-lines to pick up some mighty fine pieces. The heavenly Veba sends Reach Out To Me soaring, while the majestic Clip Your Wings shows that Rae's northern sulphuric soul influences are never far from the surface. While many beatminers show their musical inadequacies when they try their hand at leading real bands, Rae's music only benefits from this approach.  www.grandcentralrecords.com Jim Carroll