This song is worthy of its own post, James Blake just demolished my mind, I don’t know how i’m going to be able to DJ tonight I just feel like staying in and watching this over and over, my recommendation to listen to this is thru the roof.
James Blake Performs LIVE on BBC
01.14.2011
Forgive my lack of eloquence, but this is dope.
Sad, sad song but the multiple layer of songs increases till the end was brilliant which makes the word falling means as depression? Or falling in love kind of falling.
Hey I love the recorded version of this song I got the album on the net a couple weeks ago. BUT the live vocal is VERY BAD with out the auto-tune or melodyne or what ever I was very very dissapointed. but the recorded song is amazing.
But this performance is not good
I gave it a listen too. And hope it still played through your head all night. It is still in mine.
**drops Missy Elliot thinks about James Blake song**
Pretty amazing, I better get the Album.
100th listen
Good god, this guy is live even better than on record.
this is pretty incredible.
Meh… Vocals sounded whack and out of tune for this performance. But Vocals kind of suck and tend to ruin music anyway. Beautiful music should be all instrumental only…right Scott?
BTW Scott, how’s that new Tycho album coming along? (cue Stewie and Brian Griffin) hmmmm?
There a 2 more live track there :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2011/artists/jamesblake/
sorry, I’m finding this james blake way overhyped. watching the performance is uncomfortable, like waiting for something magical to happen but there’s just these guys sitting there emulating a shallow dynamic range synth tune where none of the sounds are interesting, rich or intoxicating. anybody from the 80s could’ve had better simple synth sounds. with 2010 technology we get this pathetic excuse for tonal composition ? its all so self-conscious and simulated. then the bad quality reverb comes in like that should peak out the emotional content but it just sounds like “oh the reverb came on”. dude sounds like he is trying to swallow tracy chapman but she isn’t going down right, he needs a few beers or something. I love minimal arrangements, but this stuff always just sounds like it is imitating minimalism but mainly it just lacks.
but you guys enjoy it you like, don’t worry about me.
I agree, this guy is way, way overhyped. I’m getting this uncomfortable Mike and the Mechanics vibe from this, but Mike could actually sing. It’s like hella cheesy white boy R&B with really tinny cheesed-out synth sounds. There’s certain aspects of the 80s resurgence that I really love, but this is not one of them.
If you want to hear the 80s done right, listen to the first track from The Mary Onettes’ latest album. THAT will demolish your mind….
we wont… if any you reside in london, boiler room is all i’ll say, if you don’t know already, this is THE place for the freshest music coming out the capital these dayz.
jamie woon is worth checking too for some soulful vocals and nice minimal beats… night air ‘ramadanman refix’ is definitely on point 😉
lol, sounds like Tracy Chapman
damn, I only listened to like 30 seconds of that video before stopping it but now I have the song stuck in my head. So kudos to the dude for writing a really catchy 1988 Tracy Chapman song. 😛
Hey guys check me out…Tracy Chapman, hey no really this time check me out …Tracy Chapman, blah Tracy Chapman, look what I noticed blah blah blah Tracy Chapman, hey my opinion on the matter = Tracy Chapman, did I do good? I said Tracy Chapman
Also imagine my last comment being delivered in the same way this Ibex does it – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wekKDZl1J6w
The album is really fantastic but it’s a grower, took me a good 5 or 6 solid listens through before i totally “got it”. But i really wasn’t feeling this live performance so much.
At first I didn’t care for it. After the 74th listen, all these little imperfections ya’ll are blathering about are what make this song.
dude never even screams
the slightly nervous and out of tune quality that james shows in this performance is in my opinion what gives it soul.
he is not hitting notes perfectly but that is not the point.
the band is not 100% in the pocket but that is not the point.
the point is that it is a strong, strong song written by an electronic producer, being executed live and with real feeling. it could appeal to my father or my younger brother. he is young and one of the first producers in a long time to tastefully create something with classic and new influence at the same time. soul, gospel, dubsteb etc. it’s all there. imagine what he’ll be writing when he’s 25? he is changing the game. a year from now all these beat producers are going to try to be singing. yes. a lot of it is hype but all hype holds its truth. james blake is here to stay. ya’ll can hate but what are you doing? that’s what i thought.
Damn that’s a nice sound…
DAMN that is a nice sound!
…
Damn!
Great performance.
Yeah. Awesome. Good job dealing with the haters too Jakub.
wow, that was the worst yacht rock I’ve ever heard…
“But Vocals kind of suck and tend to ruin music anyway. Beautiful music should be all instrumental only”
Ummm, what? That’s insane.
The song is still good today, whoa!
Tickles your soul a little.
Never heard of this guy but I thought it was an awesome song and performance! Thanks for the introduction Jakub!
@Chester
Sorry dude, you just don’t get it. But don’t feel bad, there’s many like you out there. Say it with me, “it’s not your fault, it’s not your fault, it’s not your fault…”
This talentless bloke James Blake is a one-hit wonder. His sound is extremely boring and unrefined and he cant sing worth shit. I sometimes don’t understand my fellow Brit’s strange obsessions.
I mean really, what is the big deal here?
WTF? Jakub, you’re on crack. This loser sounds like a Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” ripoff. I wanted to rip my ears off after listening. I’d like to kick James Blake in the balls.
WTF? Jakub, you’re on crack. This loser sounds like a Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” ripoff. I wanted to rip my ears off after listening. I’d like to kick James Blake in the balls.
@ Thomas (the) Choo-Choo
Relax man. This song does suck balls though. Really.
Saw him at the Union Chapel supporting Everything Everything on a job, great singer and fits in with the atmosphere of the place
Sitting through the sound check (was streaming out the E.E set) was more of the same, buttery smooth
@RHAEGAR
Hey guys check me out…Tracy Chapman, hey no really this time check me out …Tracy Chapman, blah Tracy Chapman, look what I noticed blah blah blah Tracy Chapman, hey my opinion on the matter = Tracy Chapman, did I do good? I said Tracy Chapman
I just don’t hear it: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fast-car/id79565550?i=79565507
that song is incredible. melts my mind.
so emotionally packed. love it. he does not have to be a great singer to lasso your heart and suck you into the song. thank you for posting it. i need this to be convinced:)
i want to say i do share jakub’s enthusiasm for the song, this really made my weekend. second, i wish some people would keep their criticism to themselves. i mean it’s all good and well if you’ve got an elaborate opinion on a song, but actually nobody ever seems to do and especially none of the commenters above. naturally, people who care for music sometimes have strong opinions, but do you really expect to convince anybody?
Wow. This is beautiful. We all have different opinions on books, art, movies, and music. However, when an artist is able to move someone with their work, they have succeeded. James Blake has succeeded.
I don’t like it when people analyze music into a million little pieces.
I liked it. End of.
Very nice, agree. Already searching on itunes 🙂
Especially the build-up and start is powerful!
Best comment from youtube:
“WHO THE FUCK DOES THIS GUY THINK HE IS HOW DARE HE CREATE THIS GROUNDBREAKING ORIGINAL SOUND WHILE I’M STUCK HERE COMMENTING ON IT”
i’ve commented on liking the piece… and understand the similarity of style with that of another singer’s style. if people do not like it they should be able to say so.
I do not understand the ” if you don”t like it keep it to yourselves” mentality. it’s just an opinion just like yours. you have to understand tat others will not agree and will express their opinions harmlessly. Like posting a comment on a site that provides space for comment…. like this site. So please chill.
I like the song and I like tracy.
it aint groundbreaking for christ sake….but i do really like it.
This music is the antitheses of hype, if you can get hyped up over this your not listening to it. That said, I do really like it, again its not anything to get really excited about and I don’t think thats the point.
Needs a second verse.
Funny how there’s so much controversy over this yet it has the most “likes” of any music post we’ve done since we implemented the “like” option.
THE HEART NEVER LIES! We know you love it.
Tracy Chapman, really? I would say hardly. In fact I would say not even close.
I’m down with this, well worthy of its own post.
Did you guys know that Tracy Chapman is original a guy?
Music is okay btw. I guess I to listen a few times before I jump to Venus with this song.
peace jakub,
i love how you get all excited about this and start insulting the critics. i too defend this video like a good friend of mine.
I dig it! Ultra-smooth. I have GOT to get my hands on one of those Prophet synths! Just need to find $3-5k laying around..
@ BEEBO
“Beautiful music should be all instrumental only…”
Sigur Ros beg to differ. 🙂
Great song, will have to check out more from him.
I’m posting this video as my facebook status for the next week.
Haters gonna hate.
Jakub – the Ibex comment / video was perfect.
James blake has been creating music around the dubstep/bass music periphery for a while now.
While I do think he has been hyped to high heavens and is clearly not some kind of musical messiah. You can’t say the kid doesn’t have talent. I would rather hear his music on the radio than 90% of the rubbish out there, this will definately be his year.
some of my faves :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udB6m3uuDOM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA-lOywYGic
James blake has been creating music around the dubstep/bass music periphery for a while now.
While I do think he has been hyped to high heavens and is clearly not some kind of musical messiah. You can’t say the kid doesn’t have talent. I would rather hear his music on the radio/tv than 90% of the rubbish out there, this will definately be his year.
some of my faves :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udB6m3uuDOM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA-lOywYGic
It seems like the more I hate a song the more comments it gets. This song rubs me the wrong way something fierce, probably the worst song (in my opinion) I’ve heard in a very long time, at least since those aweful Christmas remixes. Sorry Jacub, but this guy is a no talent ass clown…
That said, I usually enjoy your posts and will try to leave a positive comment as often as I leave negative ones…
Damn so many haters in the room! So weird…. Blake’s releases in 2010 blew me away – but the second you listen to them you know 80% of the population would think its ridiculous. But whata you gonna do?
Definitely worth it’s own post. If people don’t get it, it’s ok. I’m sure I wouldn’t get the stuff they’re into.
So, some people don’t like the song, and Jakub chastises them. Awesome.
i didn’t know we were without free thought.
There’s a huge elephant in the roomed named music snob.
@ALEX
I protect what I care about, while I put myself out there I enjoy a few blows but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to get something thrown back in your face, remember I care about the work of others thats posted here. This blog isn’t a home for music that I review or rate, its a home for music that I adore and if someone doesn’t like it and feels like they need to post why they don’t like it then they might get some feedback from me and it might not be nice.
Sometimes there is the wall opposite of you but when you are listening something like that this wall is falling.
Deciding whether or not people “get it” is a dumb thing to say. What’s there to get? It’s sound. You like the sound of it or you don’t. This is not intellectual music that needs getting, study, and intellect to be a fan of.
Put me in the party that thinks this guy is really boring and nothing new, but it’s not because I’m missing something or not understanding, it’s because this shit sounds like crap to my ears and I’m tired of unconfident, nervous, little people singing out of tune over synthesizers.
CP mans up and tells it how it is ya’ll so DEAL WITH IT
Should point out that this is the 1st time hes done a live performance of these tracks and for me the imperfections add soul and character to it. As is the case of any live act. I wouldnt want to hear a perfect rendition of the track as it sounds on the album. Thats why you go see a live performance. Yes hes been hyped a lot but for good reason if you check out his releases on Hessle Audio, Hemlock and R&S. This is also a new direction away from the dubstep sound he’d helped to revamp and change within those few earlier releases and adding his vocals more prominintly to the tracks. Everyone is influenced by someone so similarities to other artists are common for everyone and James has openly talked about those influences. If you dont like a track just dont lidten to it. I dont go onto blogs and talk about how bad a track is if i dont like it. Just dont bother listening and go find something else you like. Down with the Haters.
@CP
I definitely think this is about “getting it”. Whether you’re with the crowd that “gets it” or doesn’t, carries no connotation. I don’t think less of you because you don’t like or think it’s boring.
Same thing goes for half the population that hates Wes Anderson. I don’t think they’re retarded or lack a sense of humor. Stop getting all defensive dudes. Also, the fact that people keep bringing up “out-of-tune” performance as a reason, need to stop too. When REALLY do you ever discuss music in this arena and bring that up? Sometimes Antony sings out of tune. Jamie Lidell sings out of tune. Maybe all of a sudden opera enthusiasts stormed the ISO blog?
People should check out Whitney Houston she is never out of tune
Ha i love this song and James Blake. The response’s to this are hilarious, of course it’s hyped because its new and interesting and of course its hated because its hyped new and different, but to say this guy has no talent well thats just ignorant.
All the ‘out of tune’ comments for this just shows how much we’ve become accustomed to hearing EVERYTHING being put through autotune. also it just shows how much the judges on “britains got x factor talent’ are influencing everything. there’s more to a performance than just being in tune, people!
I agree with the skeptics. I’m not impressed with Blake for the exact reason CP stated…don’t we have enough unconfident, nervous, little people using synthesizers to augment their small voices? You can throw Jamie Woon in that group, too. I’m not much for vocals, but if I have to deal with them, when will the strong, male voice return? I never thought I’d miss Teddy Pendergrass, Barry White et al. so much. Long live Dam Funk.
I can’t get this song out of my head. But it’s more this song mashed with Nothing Compares To You.
The video is gone (removed by user). What song was it?
was it this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCeKI4ck0sg
the one you posted was “removed by user”.