James Blake picked one of the best weeks to release his new album "The Colour In Everything" — the weather has been gray, moody, rainy, and melancholic; coincidentally these words can be used to describe much of the UK electronic producer/singer's discography.
Whether you're lying on your bed trying to fight off the chilly air seeping through your foggy windows, or braving to venture outside under the uncertainty of misty, overcast skies that threaten rain, this album will be your soundtrack in the following month.
This album sets the stage for the rest of the album with his lover leaving unexpectedly followed by silence. He's shocked that she won't speak with him, and as the song "Radio Silence" builds, he is going back and forth with wanting to cut communication while almost pleading with her to at least tell him how she feels. This leads to him lamenting that she's no longer who he remembers in the track "Points."
The title track "The Colour In Anything" reminds me of a John Legend track, with the rich vibrato, elegant piano, and sobering lyrics. James has utilized several of his trademark styled in this album, from minimalist beats, to ballads, to experimental electronica.
One of the stand-out tracks on this album is the song "I Need A Forest Fire" which features Justin Vernon of the equally chilly band Bon Iver. This track has an intriguing proposition, with a relationship on the brink of ruin. James is hoping this conflict will have the properties of some forest fires, that actually improve the woods in which they occur. With lines like "to burn like cedar, I request another dream, I need a forest fire," he is hoping this relationship will have a Phoenix-like renewal, a cleansing through fire.
I do have some reservations in this album. For example, in the song "Timeless." The first half is minimal and enjoyable, but about halfway through this abrasive siren sound comes piercing into the beat and does not relent. This track reminds me of something out of a new James Bond movie though. Kanye West was announced to appear on this track, but the verse never made it on there, Blake is quoted saying, "I wanted Kanye to be on the song 'Timeless,' but the verse didn't materialize. I think a huge swath of things happened in his life, and I just stayed out of it."
James Blake has been interested in opening up and collaborating with other engineers and artists as of late. He recently lent his talents to Beyoncé's new album "Lemonade," being involved in writing and singing for the song "Forward." He also worked closely with Frank Ocean, who James said might be releasing his long awaited follow-up album to 2012's Channel Orange sooner than we think. He also had Chance The Rapper lay down a verse for his track "Life Around Here," along with an excellent music video set in the UK.
Overall I enjoyed this album, it's everything we've come to love about James Blake: minimalist beats, chilly atmosphere, and haunting vocals, but with more calculated risks. I'm excited to see who he chooses to work with next.
Adam's Album Rating:
7.5/10
