A man stares at you across a snowy landscape, dressed in a trench coat and oozing coolness. You’ve only recently met this man but how couldn’t you like him? He’s already given you so much – 13 songs on a slab of vinyl, art direction that makes you want to do things with your life and the tantalising announcement of a Sydney show.
As if that wasn’t enough, he’s just given you another 10 songs – the term “songs” is used loosely by the way. They are far much more; wintery hums that send chills down your spine, nostalgic synth lines that remind you of your childhood, pulsating beats to move your body to and an encompassing sense of bliss. This man is known as James Blake and he has arrived to make your life better.
Perhaps you should go for a walk with him and talk about his music. He seems nice and modest and you almost feel as if you never want to share his music with anyone else – it would spoil that intimacy you feel. His meekness and unique breed of cold yet warm electronic music is everything you could ever want and so much more. Hell, he even brought RZA along for the ride! The part that amazes me though is how three simple lines, repeated over and over can mean so much – “Everything feels like touchdown on a rainy day.” I couldn’t have put it better myself, James. Keep doing what you’re doing.
9/10
Reviewer: Cormack O’Connor