British singer and producer James Blake released his fourth studio album, Assume Form, last week. This project opposes his “sad boy” reputation, while still keeping his signature sound.
The artist’s hip-hop influence is more prevalent on this album than his previous albums. It features superstars like Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, and André 3000. Despite the hip-hop influence, his music would definitely not be considered hip-hop. It most closely aligns with alt-electronic music.
James Blake’s has a distinct sound that is difficult to describe. The synthesizer always leads, and the vocals follow. Blake is a master of the synthesizer, and manages to produce new sounds that make my ears perk up when I hear them (the eerie ringing alien sound in Barefoot In The Park, for example). He also has the production knowledge to put complex and beautiful effects on his vocals. He makes his voice another instrument, rather than the centre of attention, as in most music. This talent is what landed him a number of awards including a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist after the release of his Overgrown album.
The love he feels for his for his girlfriend has brought him happiness and stability. This positivity shines through on the album through smokey synth and reverberant vocals. This is definitely one of my favourite releases of the month.
Songs to check out are Mile High, Barefoot In The Park, I’ll Come Too, and Are You In Love?.
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