CD review: James Blake

James Blake.
The Colour In Anything.
Universal.
 ★★★★

In other hands, British songwriter James Blake's third album could have been an exercise in shoe-gazing melancholy, given much of the subject matter deals with the time-honoured theme of "Where did it all go wrong?''.

Yet Blake's skill lies in the subtle textural shadows he casts over his reflections of break-up: the warbling synth backdrop of Points suggests a cool walk amid autumnal leaves to clear the head; the piano noodling of the title track hints at a Sunday-morning-coming-down vibe; and the double-tracked, almost robotic vocal opening of My Willing Heart again plays with the idea of distance and how best to close it.

Single download: Timeless

For those who like: The Weeknd, Bon Ivor

- Shane Gilchrist

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