In Too Deep＜Sea Blue Vinyl＞

Sugaray Rayford is an award-winning soul-blues singer from Texas who currently resides in Los Angeles. After releasing a handful of acclaimed solo albums across the 2010s, he signed with Forty Below Records for 2019s Grammy-nominated Somebody Save Me. The set was produced by label boss Eric Corne, who also composed its songs specifically for Rayfords unique, resonant singing voice. They return with many of the same studio players on In Too Deep, though their musical focus has shifted a bit. Corne wrote eight of these songs on his own, and two more with Rayford. They rely less on blues this time out and dig much deeper into the many shades of soul and R&B, though the blues are never far away. Opener "Invisible Soldier" weds a furious horn chart to funky Hammond B-3 and popping snares. Rick Holmstroms guitar provides a driving choogle for Rayford, a 65" ex-Marine, to detail the struggles of those returning home from battle. The title track follows suit as gritty gospel, funky blues, and rock entwine around a circular guitar vamp. Rayford testifies alongside the organ as spiky guitar fills and rumbling basslines frame his delivery. "No Limits to My Love" changes pace. Its a sultry, seductive love song with silvery guitars, strings, and plenty of reverb. Rayfords singing is strong, full of conviction and vulnerability; he knows what he wants from his beloved, but wants her to want it as badly as he does and is willing to wait. The spiky "Miss Information" is a social justice screed fueled by a double-timed snare break, wailing horns, and wah-wah guitars on stun over a pumping Latin-ized bassline. Rayfords vocal emerges from the burning soul-gospel of Edwin Starr as the chorus of Corne and Gia Ciambotti adds texture and nuance. On "Please Take My Hand," Rayford sings like a Pentecostal preacher on Sunday atop a chorus of percussive handclaps, hand percussion, and layered male backing vocals. "One Way" is a souled-out paean to love, commitment, and unity in facing the ills of the world. "Gonna Lift You Up" is a rave-up, Memphis-styled soul number that draws equally on Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, James Carr, and Rev. James Cleveland. While "Golden Lady of the Canyon" is a midtempo ballad that intersects vintage Texas and West Coast R&B, its quite modern due in no small part to Rayfords unique, canny phrasing. Closer "United We Stand" is driven by a wrangling funk bassline while singer, chorus, and band combine punchy Southern soul, West Coast rhythm & blues, and rootsy blues in a stomping dancefloor anthem. In Too Deep is arguably a stronger album than Somebody Save Me, as fine as that was. Corne has had time to internalize Rayfords strengths and as a result, he writes to get the band to push him harder. Rayford responds with aplomb and delight. He commits fully to the lyrics, and goes further inside himself to communicate their nuances, even as he makes us dance. ~ Thom Jurek