Tag: james blake

Day 57: Retrograde by James Blake

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

Day 21: King’s Dead by Jay Rock ft. Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake

What a rollercoaster of a track. A blockbuster anthem for a blockbuster film, King’s Dead came from the Black Panther soundtrack as it’s second single, and boasts a monstrous line-up that includes Mike Will Made-It and Teddy Walton with production credits.

The song is a great advert for each artist, and the song feels like it is comprised of distinct chapters. There is no question as to when a new artist is being introduced to the song. Jay Rock brings a ferocity to an already tenacious beat after Kendrick opens with the chorus, only for Future to deliver the most notable verse of the track. It will almost certainly be the highest-pitched verse of his career, and the most memorable moment of the song was nearly left off it. Future raps “La di da di da, slob on me knob” and admitted in a recent interview he would have omitted the voice-breaking falsetto had Kendrick not convinced him otherwise.

Kendrick himself is his usual impeccable self, driving the song with his earworm of a chorus and puts the song into top gear with his verse. In contrast, James Blake’s ghostly, ethereal vocals add a new facet to make this song an experience, a memorable moment. And it’s from a film soundtrack. A DISNEY film soundtrack. Such is the brilliance of Kendrick in, not only rapping and lyricism, but in curating a masterpiece. Lamar did good with this one.

 

Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex