Studio Masters

James Blake – The Colour In Anything (2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:16:21 minutes | 849 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Polydor Records

GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist JAMES BLAKE releases his anxiously awaited third full-length album, The Colour In Anything [Republic Records]. Among its 17 tracks, the record features the recently revealed songs “Modern Soul” and “Timeless”— both initially featured on his BBC Radio 1 Residency show. In addition, it includes “I Need a Forest Fire” [feat. Bon Iver] and “Radio Silence.” In addition to the Bon Iver feature, Frank Ocean and Rick Rubin also contributed to The Colour In Anything as co-writer and co-producer, respectively.
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James Blake – Friends That Break Your Heart (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 43:48 minutes | 438 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Republic Records – Polydor Records

With over two years having passed since the release of his critically acclaimed 2019 album Assume Form, singer, and electronic musician James Blake releases his fifth studio album Friends That Break Your Heart. A concept album, Friends That Break Your Heart includes 12 tracks with collaborations with SZA, JID, SwaVay, and Monica Martin.
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James Blake – Covers (EP) (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 19:49 minutes | 181 MB | Genre: Alternative, Indie
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Republic Records – Polydor Records

At some point during the COVID-19 lockdown, fans began asking James Blake to cover songs on Instagram. One in particular, a haunting rendition of “Godspeed” from Frank Ocean’s 2016 album Blonde, seemed to open the floodgates, and the idea for an EP was born. On Covers, the British singer-songwriter and electronic producer reimagines six essential songs, spanning the 1950s folk song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, made famous by Roberta Flack in 1972, to Billie Eilish’s 2018 alt-pop ballad “when the party’s over”. To each, he brings his unique touch—watery vocals, delicate production and rich, undulating piano—showing a more intimate side to songs better known for their heft: The wide, ominous expanse of Joy Division’s “Atmosphere” shrinks into hushed, romantic balladry, and Stevie Wonder’s hearty vocals on “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer” suddenly become tender, soft and weepy. The most spellbinding take is his cover of Beyoncé’s “OTHERSIDE”, a perfect cut from her album for Disney’s reboot of The Lion King. Here it’s titled “When We’re Older”, but the rest is left, understandably, intact. From the fluttering piano arpeggios to the gospel hums to the fluid vocal runs, it’s less of a creative reimagination and more of a soulful, reverent tribute.
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James Blake – Before (EP) (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 16:50 minutes | 168 MB | Genre: Electronic
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Republic Records – Polydor Records

After an album crammed with star features in 2019 (Assume Form, with Travis Scott, Andre 3000, Moses Sumney, Rosalia and Metro Boomin), James Blake hasn’t shown any sign of slowing throughout this strange year that is 2020. He has made a cover of Frank Ocean’s Godspeed, released the two singles You’re Too Precious and Are You Even Real as well as a collaboration with slowthai and Mount Kimbie on Feel Away in September. The hyperactive British artist is back already with this EP consisting of four similarly dreamlike tracks, but each in their own style. I Keep Calling opens the affair with its contrast of lyrical singing, 2-step beats and throbbing bass, while Before is a ballad sang on top of distorted house kicks that quickly spiral into the cosmos. Another success is Do You Ever, a nice unstable bass R&B track, but the auto-tuned Summer of Now is less convincing, a little too alternative for the premium pop artist James Blake has now become. – Smaël Bouaici
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