James Blake Showcases Nostalgic Electronic Roots in Newest Album

James Blake’s sixth studio album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, blends deep and minimal beats with his signature electronic style.

James Blake is known for his gentle vocals and lyrics, along with R&B samples intertwined with electronic styles like UK bass, dubstep, and two-step garage. His career contains projects spanning multiple genres and impressive collaborations with dance, ambient, hip-hop, and R&B artists. James Blake has pushed the limit when it comes to fresh sounds and ideas as it relates to his artistry. His prodigious career began in 2009 with the release of the experimental dubstep hit “CMYK,” followed by The Bells Stretch EP in 2010. Throughout the early half of the decade, Blake explored his songwriting with hip-hop beats and minimalistic ambient sounds, leading him to become a GRAMMY award winner.

Now, James Blake is returning to the electronic scene with Playing Robots Into Heaven, his sixth studio album that includes 11 new tracks. Playing Robots Into Heaven re-immerses his artistry into the dance music realm, where he introduces experimental elements in his music with a mix of glitchy synths, deep beats, and reflective lyricism.

After fans listened to the lead single, “Big Hammer,” off Playing Robots Into Heaven, a shift in Blake’s nostalgic electronic sound seemed promising. The twitchy intro that cascades into hard-hitting baselines differs from the soft and romantic soundscapes in Friends That Break Your Heart, Blake’s previous album. “Loading,” the second single from the album, features upbeat percussion accompanied by Blake’s signature reflective lyricism. The tracks foreshadowed the return of Blake’s electronic roots, and that is what fans received with the new release.

The album journeys through minimal, experimental, and heavy beats and Blake’s distinguishable voice. Tracks “Tell Me” and “Loading” are enhanced, percussion-filled bops to be heard in a club, while “If You Can Hear Me” and “Fire The Editor feature Blake’s vocals atop gentle, ambient sounds. If you are looking for glitchy synths with a soulful edge, look no further than “He’s Been Wonderful” and “Fall Back.” The title track, “Playing Robots Into Heaven,” takes listeners through a meditative conclusion of the album.

Playing Robots Into Heaven brings fans back to the early days of the James Blake sound, creating excitement for the new beginning. Make sure to stream Playing Robots Into Heaven on your favorite platform. Find dates for James Blake’s upcoming European North America tour on his official website.