2019 saw James Blake return to the musical forum with Assume Form, an epic, true to form saga that utilised the stratospheric clout of the likes of Travis Scott, ROSALIA and Andre 3000. For today’s post, however, we go back to a pubescent Blake, musically speaking. 2013 saw his sophomore album, Overgrown, grace the world after hearing a sample of it in the form of lead single, Retrograde.
Soulful and heartfelt, Blake’s low slung voice plods through the synth-filled, minimalist jungle of his production. Retrograde is part of a progressive journey away from dubstep, away from the singer/songwriter tag. Away from any genre restraints at all really. His sound is truly unique, with this song, in particular, forming a melancholic hark back to dubstep’s hay-day when Blake was growing up. Pioneers of the sound such as Burial and Skream were huge inspirations along Blake’s musical journey, and this shows how his style has shifted, encompassing more and more of RnB.
The rhythmic humming that underpins the whole song have a gospel quality to them that yet again dodge classification from one genre. Blake’s entire sound, across his entire discography, is fluid and complex. The production always makes each song feel like an audio blockbuster capable of transporting you anywhere. From an incredibly serious debut, self-titled project, to the gloomier, hip-hop rinsed offering from earlier this year, James Blake is a rare artist that is ever-evolving, and one that can be turned to no matter what the occasion, no matter what the emotion.
Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex
A Song A Day 