A sensitive dubstep artist who’s been known to collaborate with Bon Iver isn’t exactly the kind of musician you find in droves these days. So, James Blake is somewhat of an anomaly in this sense, though the tremendous appeal of his idiosyncratic, folksy electronica is impossible to deny. With his sophomore effort, Overgrown, the London-based singer-songwriter proves that he’s in no way contained within the boundaries of genre.
Though it may not be as cohesively excellent as Blake’s smashing self-titled debut, Overgrown exhibits some welcome developments. Drawing from R&B and gospel influences, he doesn’t shy away from showing his soulful side, even when backed by synthesizers.
The album’s fantastic single, “Retrograde,” makes this genre evolution most evident while showing how the artist has grown more confident with his vocals. The song starts off with sparse, chilly piano chords and gradually picks up momentum through layer upon layer of synth sounds that drone and echo to create a powerful, atmospheric track.
It is clear that Blake is attempting to blur the lines between his electronic producer roots and his singer-songwriter persona on this album. This deliberate effort produces very interesting results that are evident in songs such as the bass-heavy, yet gospel-influenced “Digital Lion.” Collaborating with Brian Eno on this track, he manipulates and layers his vocals while simultaneously progressing to post-dubstep sounds as the song pushes onward. Though the slick productions are subtle, fans will appreciate the careful detail that went into this particular track.
“Voyeur,” on the other hand, might throw some listeners off. More obviously than others, it’s influenced by funky techno sounds that Blake is all too familiar with, and appears slightly awkward when considered in conjunction with the rest of the album. Still, it’s difficult to characterize Overgrown as a cohesive record when it features such disparate sounds and emotional soundscapes.
Though it may not be immediately captivating, Overgrown’s evocative vocals and detailed production grow to be mesmerizing upon multiple listens. If anything, the album spotlights a young artist coming into his own, perhaps outgrowing any restrictive musical label in the process.
