James Blake - Limit To Your Love

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2...according to our Clinton on Thu 25 Nov, 2010.

Some of my favourite electronic music this year has been made by James Blake and Mount Kimbie. Blake's superb two EP whammy - 'CMYK' and 'Klavierwerke' both contain really good examples of what we may call post-dubstep. Skittering beats, late night 'Burial style atmospherics and upbeat soulful samples leading to some really fine forward thinking electronica with a heart. I'm not sure if this gives him the excuse to start singing though. This is a cover of a Feist/Gonzales tune and is a gospel ish slow burner led by piano with Blake's Jamie Lidell style soul crooning over the top. The voice also has hints of Antony and the Johnsons but if Anthony knows anything it is how to pronounce his 't's. Alas Blake repeatedly pronounces 'waterfall' as 'waerfall' which is exremely infuriating. A flip to the B side and there's nothing on it. So that was a total waste of time then. More worrying its a taster for his new LP so I just hope its a red herring otherwise he's another one headed for the coffee table which would be a real shame.

So far 2010 has been a stellar year for James Blake; first with his critically acclaimed ‘The Bells Sketch’ EP then the huge underground smash ‘CMYK’ on R&S, he’s gone from a left field beat-maker operating on the fringes of dubstep to one of the brightest new names to watch in British music today.

A second R&S release – the brilliant ‘Klavierwerke EP’ - was released in September, and immediately set about defining the sound of James' future as he cut and spliced his own voice to create an EP of emotive, insular genius, knowingly paving the way for his full vocal debut with Limit To Your Love. Off the back of this EP, some bloggers claimed to have been reduced to tears by the simplicity and beauty of the sounds the 21-year-old teases from his home studio.

James now rounds off an unparalleled year of discovery by unveiling one of the most stunning male vocals to emerge this millennium. This version of Feist & Chilly Gonzales’s ‘Limit To Your Love’ will be the first taste of his debut album due in early 2011. Re-worked, recorded and produced entirely alone in his bedroom, this single is also the first time listener will have had the chance to hear James’ incredibly soulful voice. Matching a heart-stoppingly emotional delivery to a speaker-busting, foundation-crumbling bassline, this is a simply exceptional piece of music, the natural successor to Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy as the ultimate expression of UK urban emotion.

‘Limit To Your Love’ is more than just a cover, it's a glimpse into James Blake’s world. Many have already heard LTYL shaking the foundations of James' DJ sets this year. As dubstep fragments into the mainstream consciousness James Blake boldly sets out his stall as one of the most credible and forward thinking artists to emerge in years.

James has just returned from shooting the LTYL video in Copenhagen with influential director Martin De Thurah. His debut album will be released in early 2011.

3...according to Benny.

Not sure about this one...as Clint said, the track is starting to grate, and I don't understand the hype around this one...Jamie Woon seems to be providing a bit more talent in the vocal department in this niche (what's with all these James'/Jamies'?)

Anyway yeah, The Bells Sketch, Pembroke and CMYK EP's were classy and fresh...I'm starting to think he's starting to stale a bit with the new Klavierwerke EP and especially with this one. For me, Fantastic Mr Fox has wiped the floor so to speak with his new EP (in terms of production), and Jamie Woon is the one to watch (see: Ramadanman remix of Night Air). That's not to say James Blake hasn't got anything left to say...

Rating: 3 out of 5

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