James Blake

gumdrops

Well-known member
Though not his, I just disocvered - prefer his version though.

id like his version more without the 'real music' pianos (which are just like feists). not that im against people getting songful with post dubstep or whatever, im not, i love king midas sound (well the stuff that didnt sound just like tricky and martina), but soon as i heard those pianos, i thought well hes trying to get to quite a different crowd isnt he? think id like it more if it was more electronic all the way.

dont know how anyone can expect him to be an R&B singer though - hes so obviously not. the R&B comes from what hes doing with the backing, not the vocals. he sounds more like an achingly earnest/gentle if limited singer-songwriter type. not surprising he likes feist. yet to hear blakes album but he makes me sort of think of a white/more indie spacek (who also cant actually sing all that well). i still dont get the cult of cassie. it seems to come from people desperate to have an R&B underdog than any greatness in her songs (apart from me n u obv).
 
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paolo

Mechanical phantoms
I like his more abstract tunes. And the Harmonimix of Trim is one of the best tracks in years for me

i'm reminded of a zhao quote from earlier, something along the lines of "there's a limit to your singing ability". :)

PAR
 

Benny Bunter

Well-known member
I thought that what he did with trim's vocals sounded pretty horrible tbh. I quite like the idea of harmonimixes though.
 

gumdrops

Well-known member
listening to the album now. wilhelms scream is amazing. not sure about his voice on all the tracks but the music on this is pretty special. must remember not to pay much attention to internet backlash/consensus crit so readily.
 

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
i still dont get the cult of cassie. it seems to come from people desperate to have an R&B underdog than any greatness in her songs (apart from me n u obv).

her songs are all utter pop genius, and I don't even fancy her (Ciara's much cuter):

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tom lea

Well-known member

but enough derailing. i think the point about how sometimes blake chops his stuff up a little too much on the album is a valid one, but it also kind of highlights how great some of his melodies are when them getting chopped frustrates you. i think it's a really good record, it's a little uncomfortable playing it around people, it's a very personal, headphone type record, and it's nice and modest and not too long.
 
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unclerico

Well-known member
I thought that what he did with trim's vocals sounded pretty horrible tbh. I quite like the idea of harmonimixes though.

do you mean the pitch shifting effect? - cos i thought that but then was listening to loads of trim tracks on youtube and i noiced quite a few had that effect on too - so maybe the effect was on the original trim track?
 

Benny Bunter

Well-known member
Yes but Blake's also added extra pitch shift/autotune or whatever it is to make a melody. Anyway, it grates on my ears.
 

wise

bare BARE BONES
I was just listening to the new album when my wife came in and said 'why are you listening to pop music?'
:D
 

hint

party record with a siren
Describing Cassie as pop genius in the era of Gaga and Robyn seems a bit peculiar. Back when RnB was really ruling pop Cassie's stuff wouldn't have touched the best, let alone now.

How did that ultra clumsy "Thinking I was spoken for / Not any more" line in Official Girl make it out there into the world?

James Blake is better than Cassie.
 
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CrowleyHead

Well-known member
Dude, Karina Paisan (Official Girl's writer) is AWFUL. Right now, best singer-songwriter also attempting a career is Esther Dean, hands down.

Who, if she got her hands on Cassie, would do her right. After all, no matter how many Danja/Bangladesh/Stargate/Tricky Stewart/WHOEVER beats you throw at someone, if you have an awful songwriter trying to pen a hit, it's not going to happen.

I'd never say she's a genius. But I think she's a great vehicle that is being criminally ignored in favor of other more absurd creatures of R&B.
 

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Describing Cassie as pop genius in the era of Gaga and Robyn seems a bit peculiar. Back when RnB was really ruling pop Cassie's stuff wouldn't have touched the best, let alone now.

How did that ultra clumsy "Thinking I was spoken for / Not any more" line in Official Girl make it out there into the world?

James Blake is better than Cassie.

I am a huge Robyn fan, so clearly we're not on too different pages. But I still hold that Cassie's best stuff holds its own amongst the best.
 

MatthewH

makes strange noises.
Just listened to three of the Cassie tracks above and was shocked to discover she was American. I thought you lot were just getting excited about some local talent - it definitely doesn't sound strong enough to cross an ocean.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the new Blake album.
 

mms

sometimes
Just listened to three of the Cassie tracks above and was shocked to discover she was American. I thought you lot were just getting excited about some local talent - it definitely doesn't sound strong enough to cross an ocean.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing the new Blake album.

she's P Diddy's Beard.
 

BareBones

wheezy
How did that ultra clumsy "Thinking I was spoken for / Not any more" line in Official Girl make it out there into the world?

but in the same song you have "And I ain't making ultimatums / I'm gonna tell you this verbatim" which is pretty great if you ask me
 

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Did someone say they don't like James Blake's voice earlier? I think it's great (the best thing about him in my opinion, but that's neither here nor there)
 
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