Girl Ray appear to be in a constant state of transition, moving from their charming indie debut ‘Earl Grey’ through the pop-R&B tones of their second release ‘Girl’ and on to ‘Prestige’, a third album that drags us to the dancefloor, embracing all things disco with catchy synth work and floaty vocals.
Partly inspired by the TV show Pose and the queer ballroom scene that thrived in New York during the 1980s, the LP allows Girl Ray to pay homage to their influences in a way that initially feels new and exciting, only to fade into repetition across its 42 minutes.
True Love, Everybody’s Saying That and Love Is Enough are Nile Rodgers paint-by-numbers and while Girl Ray are obviously having fun with his formula, with the latter song purpose-built for festival season, it soon wears itself out.
Give Me Your Love stands out, gently nudging the band out of their comfort zone, filled with funk-infused beats and gleaming synths that work harmoniously alongside the distinctiveness of Poppy Hankin’s vocals. Both vibrant and uplifting, it’s an eight-minute dream of warm summer nights and dancing in fields.
The synth-driven Begging You Now is another highlight, with Hankin admitting to her “jealous fevers”. It’s a breath of fresh air on a record fit-to-burst with more prosaic talk of love, and when paired with the luscious Wanna Dance it offers something more soulful than its peers.
‘Prestige’ has its floor-filler moments yet fails to consistently draw a crowd. Its heavy sonic namechecking of influences seems to prevent Girl Ray from fully showcasing their own talents. They are a band at their best when they are having fun, and while there are examples here to prove that, there is more to come.
Girl Ray Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue August 08 2023 - BRIGHTON Resident
Wed August 09 2023 - NOTTINGHAM Rough Trade
Thu August 10 2023 - BRISTOL Rough Trade
Tue November 21 2023 - BRIGHTON Patterns
Wed November 22 2023 - BRISTOL THE FLEECE
Fri November 24 2023 - MANCHESTER SOUP
Sat November 25 2023 - GLASGOW Room 2
Sun November 26 2023 - DUBLIN Workmans Club
Tue November 28 2023 - LEEDS Belgrave Music Hall
Wed November 29 2023 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Sun December 03 2023 - LONDON Village Underground
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