James Blake's Naked Electronica

photo via deathandtaxesmag.com

The name "James Blake" keeps popping up whenever I read something discussing "Artists To Watch in 2011." Recently, the interweb has had quite a bit to say about this UK Dubstep Producer-turned-Artist and his brand of music...what I refer to as "Naked Electronica."  It's an unusually dark, bare-bones take on soul music and r&b, but with light, minimalist keyboard flourishes, and some other very interesting sounds.

Throughout this self-titled debut album, the songs are built mostly around Blake's haunting vocal style.  His voice flutters in and out of the tracks like a butterfly.  He's not trying to overpower you with his croon, he is more interested in seducing you with it.

The centerpiece of the record is his cover of Feist's "Limit To Your Love"(see below).

This album is best suited for mellow "after-dark" listening sessions, at times when you don't want your music to smack you over the head with unrelenting beats and rhythms.

As A Tribe Called Quest once said, "7 times out of 10 we listen to our music at night."  With that in mind, thus spawned the making of James Blake's album.

Recommended if you like: D'Angelo, Jamie Lidell, The xx, Kid A-Era Radiohead, Bon Iver, Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreaks album.



-Turnbull