james blake - 'i need a forest fire (ft. bon iver)'

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I've had a preview copy of the new James Blake album and I've been giving it some listening but I must confess it can be a bit much all in one go. It's relentlessly a break-up album and the idiosyncratic singing style can get a bit much on an album with 17 tracks. I'm not trying to downplay how good it is, it's excellent, it's just that for me I can only take so much in one go. Here's the brand new video for 'I Need A Forest Fire' taken from the upcoming album.

james blake remixes destiny's child 'bills'

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As if winning the 2013 Mercury Prize wasn't a big enough challenge, James Blake has upped the ante with a remix of generic girl band Destiny's Child's hit 'Bills' under his pseudonym of Harmonimix. The result is something altogether different from the original, thankfully and this curious experiment works.  I wonder what next for Blake. 

james blake's 'overgrown' wins mercury music prize

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If ever proof were needed that the geekier edges of electronica are coming into the mainstream then James Blake's well-deserved win should go a long way to satisfying the doubters. His music has always been a very cerebral and intimate creation, I can't recall too many 'in your face' tracks from him despite how heavy he drops the bass. 

Blake's stock is already extremely high with A-list musicians lining up to request his mixing skills. Only this week I heard a very powerful production with Drake (not my thing but I can appreciate he's a great musician). This remix of Rahjconkas is far more up my street.