James Blake cannot be accused of lacking ideas. In less than a year he has produced a range and variety of music that could have emerged from an entire career. Back in May, his EP CMYK wove R&B samples into powerful new statements, suggesting an alternative path for the future of dubstep. In his next EP, Klavierwerk, Blake adapted his complex musical production to an unexpected source: his own voice. If the vocal element here was a revelation, his sheer vocal talent was the next surprise, which came in a pared-down cover of Feist’s ‘Limit To Your Love.’ By the release of this single, Blake had confounded the possibility of being pigeonholed. His style was ever-changing, unpredictable and continually exciting.
In a sense, his eponymous first album is a culmination of everything we’ve come to respect about Blake. Tracks like ‘I Never Learnt To Share’ are reminders of the euphoric electronic suspense on CMYK as well as its technical virtuosity, whereas the melancholia of Klavierwerk is strongly felt throughout this record. However, more than ever, Blake appears focused on being a songwriter. Tracks like ‘Why Don't You Call Me’, where his voice is paired with a piano, reveal a lyrical depth and an astonishing melodic beauty. In various moments, Blake layers his voice against itself at several pitches creating wonderful harmonies. The recurrent combination of the low reverberating organ (familiar from other Blake releases) and lyrics of near-biblical plainness give the entire album an almost gospel feel. The final track has the beauty and simplicity of an early Negro hymn.
Above all, this album is proof that this young talent won’t sit still – if this is the culmination of his work up till now, I’m sure he will continue to surprise for a long while yet.
they're calling this genre 'pubstep'
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