Album: James Blake, James Blake (Atlas / A&M)

Reviewed
Sunday 06 February 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

There have been suggestions that this well-educated north London white boy is a cunning invention cooked up to sell the idea of dubstep to, well, people who read newspapers such as this one.

The 21-year-old, a runner-up in the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll, may make music which is informed by the sonic landscape of that scene, or at least the moody, sinister end thereof, but James Blake is not a record you'll ever hear booming out of car windows.

From opener "Unluck", which has you checking the laser lens on your CD player for dirt, this is an album which has you imagining what might have happened if Robert Wyatt or John Martyn had made glitchcore.

If all you've heard is the single "Limit to Your Love", the most conventional moment here, you won't be prepared for this extraordinary record. Built for repeat listening, this will keep on giving. Don't you just hate it when the hype is right?

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in