May 9th, 2013
When I first heard of James Blake it was after his self titled debut dropped in 2011. His cover of Feist's "Limit To Your Love" seemed to have no limit to the love it generated. I gave it, and the entire album, a handful of listens. Meh. Personally, I wasn't a fan. It was, however, obvious he had serious potential. What struck me was his ability to build songs with seemingly contradictory attributes. The production was sparse, yet deep. His vocals were intimate, yet revealed little. Some of the tracks thumped like a dirty Portishead slow jam, yet he crooned like a shy choirboy, hitting gorgeous notes only to slink away in a whisper. Cool stuff, but not my cup of Tetley. Across the pond, the Brits at home ate it up, nominating it for the Mercury Prize. Many American critics had it in their "Best Of" lists that year. He definitely wasn't on mine.
Fast forward to a week ago. I had tickets to see him at T5 and hadn't even listened to his album, to the chagrin of my wife, who'd been raving about it. After coming home late from a show last weekend, I fell out on the couch exhausted. Decided to give "Overgrown", his brand new LP, a listen on my HiFi home headphones. Boom. I became a fan after one listen. Maybe it's his new girlfriend. Maybe it's just some more living under his belt (he's 24). Whatever it is, he's evolved. On his first album cover he hid himself with a camera trick. On the new one, he stands tall and in focus. A caterpillar stirring in a chrysalis has emerged as a whole new animal. Just take the first single, "Retrograde". It's not a reinterpreted cover, it's a stunningly beautiful love song he wrote, inspired by his current relationship. He sings out instead of shrinking. The beat thumps along, accentuated by digital claps. The synths climax as he belts the chorus. Then, the bottom falls out and he's humming. Gorgeous.
Not every track of "Overgrown" is fire, but there are plenty of gems. "I Am Sold" sounds like a murky love song from a black and white spy film. "Life Round Here" is electro R&B perfect for pumping on the creep with a secret lover somewhere dark and secluded. "DLM"'s a stripped down hymn with only James and his piano. For "Digital Lion" JB & Brian Eno start slow and glitchy before building to a dubstep finale that sounds a lot like Radiohead's "Feral". Like his first, he recorded the whole thing alone in a room, with the exception of a RZA appearance on "Take A Fall For Me" and the track Eno hopped on. Beside those jewels, James worked alone. He's an artist whose process and sound is perfect for modern times. In an age where everyone's wearing headphones to retreat within from the growing unease outside, James Blake provides a soothing escape. In only a few days, I'd gone from a guy who'd barely heard his work to a fan in the sold out crowd anticipating an outstanding show.
Mr. Blake came out and sat behind the keys to hearty applause. He was joined by two long time friends. One sat with a guitar on his knee. The other got in behind the drums. After a brief greeting and warm smile, James played his first notes and the show began. For a little less than 2 hours, he and his mates made every song sound better than the record. The bass vibrated your organs. The textures they created were transporting and immersive. His voice sounded perfect. There were times I swayed with my eyes closed and danced up a storm in the same song. Beats I recognized were built upon and stretched out to new places I'd never been. The arch of it all was spot on. It was truly a flawless performance. Hyperbole? Tell tale signs of an epic performance are the beer line and bathrooms. I visited both twice and never had one person in front of me at either. No one wanted to miss a lick. Take it from me, that is not what happens at average shows.
I've always thought recordings set the bar of expectations. The truly talented exceed them when they perform. That's exactly what we experienced the other night. Heck, even David Byrne, looking dapper in the VIP balcony, never left his seat and stayed til the lights came on. The future is bright for this young Brit.
Mr. Blake came out and sat behind the keys to hearty applause. He was joined by two long time friends. One sat with a guitar on his knee. The other got in behind the drums. After a brief greeting and warm smile, James played his first notes and the show began. For a little less than 2 hours, he and his mates made every song sound better than the record. The bass vibrated your organs. The textures they created were transporting and immersive. His voice sounded perfect. There were times I swayed with my eyes closed and danced up a storm in the same song. Beats I recognized were built upon and stretched out to new places I'd never been. The arch of it all was spot on. It was truly a flawless performance. Hyperbole? Tell tale signs of an epic performance are the beer line and bathrooms. I visited both twice and never had one person in front of me at either. No one wanted to miss a lick. Take it from me, that is not what happens at average shows.
Upcoming Tour Dates
11/05/13 THEATRE OF LIVING ARTS, PHILADELPHIA, PA
12/05/13 9:30 CLUB, WASHINGTON, DC
13/05/13 CATS CRADLE, CARRBORO, NC
14/05/13 MASQUERADE (HEAVEN STAGE), ATLANTA, GA
04/07/13 DAY OFF FESTIVAL, CITE DE LA MUSIQUE, PARIS, FRANCE
05/07/13 PITCH FESTIVAL, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
19/07/13 MELT FESTIVAL, BERLIN, GERMANY
09/08/13 OYA FESTIVAL, OSLO, NORWAY
10/08/13 WAY OUT WEST, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
18/09/13 O2 ABC , GLASGOW, UK.
20/09/13 RITZ, MANCHESTER, UK.
21/09/13 HMV INSTITUTE , BIRMINGHAM, UK.
22/09/13 O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD, UK.
24/09/13 O2 ACADEMY, BRISTOL, UK.
25/09/13 O2 SHEPERDS BUSH EMPIRE, LONDON, UK.
26/09/13 O2 SHEPERDS BUSH EMPIRE , LONDON, UK.
06/10/13 VEGA, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.
08/10/13 TEMPODROM, BERLIN, GERMANY.
09/10/13 MUFFATHALLE, MUNICH, GERMANY.
10/10/13 E-WERK, COLOGNE, GERMANY.
12/10/13 MELKWEG, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
13/10/13 ANCIENNE BELGIQUE, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
14/10/13 TRIANON, PARIS, FRANCE.
12/05/13 9:30 CLUB, WASHINGTON, DC
13/05/13 CATS CRADLE, CARRBORO, NC
14/05/13 MASQUERADE (HEAVEN STAGE), ATLANTA, GA
04/07/13 DAY OFF FESTIVAL, CITE DE LA MUSIQUE, PARIS, FRANCE
05/07/13 PITCH FESTIVAL, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
19/07/13 MELT FESTIVAL, BERLIN, GERMANY
09/08/13 OYA FESTIVAL, OSLO, NORWAY
10/08/13 WAY OUT WEST, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
18/09/13 O2 ABC , GLASGOW, UK.
20/09/13 RITZ, MANCHESTER, UK.
21/09/13 HMV INSTITUTE , BIRMINGHAM, UK.
22/09/13 O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD, UK.
24/09/13 O2 ACADEMY, BRISTOL, UK.
25/09/13 O2 SHEPERDS BUSH EMPIRE, LONDON, UK.
26/09/13 O2 SHEPERDS BUSH EMPIRE , LONDON, UK.
06/10/13 VEGA, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.
08/10/13 TEMPODROM, BERLIN, GERMANY.
09/10/13 MUFFATHALLE, MUNICH, GERMANY.
10/10/13 E-WERK, COLOGNE, GERMANY.
12/10/13 MELKWEG, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
13/10/13 ANCIENNE BELGIQUE, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
14/10/13 TRIANON, PARIS, FRANCE.
