Just in time for fall James Blake is set to release more of his signature dark dreamy future R&B. After a year that found him at the top of the buzz list, this EP should read something like a victory lap for the young Blake, who's debut LP released last February is sure to top many year end lists.
I dug the eerily beautiful post dubstep featured on his first 3 EP's, but he surprised all of us when he broke out of that mold by releasing an album comprised of influences from across the spectrum of modern popular music that was more than the sum of its parts. Hooky but off beat, Blake's self titled EP fell into a space between the bedroom and the club, a moving and mellow portrait of the emotional potential electronic music can contain. Central to it's sound is Blake's voice, an element no one saw coming in anticipating this album. But the guy can sing. Easily as affecting as Justin Vernon or Thom Yorke, Blake has the kind of soulfully sad voice so full of longing that cuts straight to your core. Speaking of Vernon, Blake gets the Bon Iver bump on the third track off Enough Thunder, entitled "Fall Creek Boys Choir".
The cut that's sure to get the most spins for me is Blake's cover of the Joni Mitchel song "Case of You". Been obsessed with this since he debuted it live on BBC Radio 1. I was lucky enough to catch Blake's first stateside performance last march, which was mind blowing. His encore performance of this track cut my comrade's and I so deep we had to wash it off with multiple cocktails and hours of discussion.
look for the Enough Thunder EP to drop October 10th.
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