The King of melancholic compositions and intricate production, James Blake is undeniably talented, and undoubtedly the best at what he does. His brand of electronic sorrow and his falsetto vocal is bellissimo, but for a while, I struggled to listen to his records in full, and I never ever pressed replay. I knew he was utterly brilliant at what he did, absolutely fantastic, but it just didn’t seem for me. I got distracted when I listened, but I always thought it was a reflection on me, not the quality of James Blake. There was rarely a memorable hook or a catchy chorus that stuck in your head and drew you back in, but again, that’s not a reflection on Mr. Blake, because that ain’t what he does. Until now maybe.
James Blake’s new album, Assume Form, is a bright eyed collection of electronic pop songs with an eclectic array of instruments pulled together to create a meticulously crafted backdrop that allows Blake to blush and gush about his beloved Missus. Melancholic sounds of mystery and hopelessness from his previous three long-plays are swapped for sounds reminiscent of those moments where you’ve a permanently plastered smile upon your face, but no idea why. A feeling of euphoria and hope floods the album, the brightness and vibrant instrumentation making each song more accessible, making you want to press repeat on them over and over. Each collaboration with his various musical pals works well, not disrupting the flow of the record, only adding to the euphoric feel throughout and helping Blake to keep up the tempo, allowing him to show off his producing-ability, which is now world-renowned.
Calling it pop music may be a bit of a stretch, but James Blake’s more positive approach this time round creates songs that are instantly more recognisable, and instantly more memorable, without straying away from his trademark template to much.
