james blake

Across its 12 songs, Blake himself becomes the focus —  the spacious, haunting soundscapes he once roamed like a ghostly spectre have almost entirely receded, giving his choir-boy vocals and sincerity a chance to carry the weight.

The album is a delightful listen where Misch’s talents as a musician go beyond the work he has produced in the past, pulling from genres outside the realm of R&B guitar.

For the first time on a JPEGMAFIA release, the production can be described as elegant and occasionally euphoric, serving as auditory relief from the relentlessly gloomy themes.

Music beat reporters Vincent Tran and Crew Bittner are here to provide you with a few recommendations, as well as a playlist, of highlights you might’ve missed in the music world this past month.

The track opens with the repeating of gentle piano keys and a muffled, distorted falsetto, establishing a cyclical groove that draws the listener in further as the song progresses.

With his performances of “Life Round Here” and “Limit To Your Love,” Blake brought an entirely original and entirely brighter energy to his older songs.

As the semester really gets into the full swing of things, it’s essential to have a prime playlist to get you through everything. With so many new releases to start off the new year, we at the Clog have simplified things for you by compiling a list of five songs to add to your playlist.

Where “Assume Form” is a what’s what of Blake’s signatures, “Lullaby” sheds these techniques to their critical parts. The song is essentially instrument-less, with just layered, soaring vocals offering a final exultation to the object of his love.

Though Blake didn’t put on a striking persona onstage, he easily won his audience over with his sonically deafening and visually exhilarating performance.

Through production tricks and pitch-perfect sample choices, Scott builds an immersive fantasy world of hedonism and decadence.