Album Review

James Blake – James Blake

• 10th Jan 2011

For a man that has shot into the wider public spectrum in a matter of weeks, James Blake is another man that could be said to be pushing forward the dark and twisted phenomenon that’s been hiding itself away for so many years in the depths of South London. Though, the simplistic charm of the heavy dancefloor absorbing bass and tranced synths is not enough for James. With the record, he leads fans on a mystery trail into something new. The unknown. Encompassing all that we love from last year’s renowned Magnetic Man with his own charismatic song writing and production.

Record starter, ‘Unluck,’ begins with a chaotic interlude of mashing schords as the drums trip into a psychotic state of unpredictability, but don’t let yourself be put off by this. Fans of Squarepusher would be all to welcome to this advert approach to making music, but that’s the thing with the album, it’s got something for everyone. For the most hearty dubstep fans, there’s head single ‘Limit To Your Love,’ with its possessive sub-bass, intertwining vocals and gaps of intensity. Aswell as opening the door to Bon Iver fans with the essence of smooth vocoder brushed vocals reminiscent of ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’.

Amidst the electronics the album still has a soft and organic embrace about it. James’s tender vocals twinkle elegantly in and out of tracks such as ‘Give Me My Mouth’ and ‘Why Don’t You Call Me’, both piano based ballads. Don’t be wrong in thinking that this is a particularly upbeat record, it plays through slowly but quaintly, easing tunes with an electronic touch. And to me that’s what makes it seem weird that something so famed as being the big sound of 2011 is so subtle.

It can be said though that some of the tracks remain as oddities, with persistent blipping tones and patchy sampling, many people may find it difficult to listen to.

The subtle gospel based harmonies of ‘Measurements,’ come as a highlight for me. A track that remains relatively untouched apart from the low growl of an bassy organ underneath caressing melodies. It’s probably the one that’ll most likely have you crying in fits of happiness by the end aswell as the most powerful.

If anything though, James Blake’s record left me grasping for more of the edgy heavy sound off James’s ‘CMYK EP’ with it’s classically dub influenced power. The album although pleasant and worth the time to get into just doesn’t fill the gap for anyone expecting tracks bigger than ‘Wihelms Scream’ or ‘Limit To Your Love’. For me, it’s a grower, but you can definitely tell the stand-out tracks. Expressive, intriguing but ultimately underwhelming.

6/10