James Blake, Mt Kimbie, CD/SD

was not expecting to completely fall for the new james blake lp today

I need some more listens, it kind of floated by on headphones and I actually think that this is a non-headphones JB record, but I love to hear that.

On a nerd level I listened to his RA interview and he was saying that he built most of the tracks around snippets from modular synth jams (and that looking at a DAW on a laptop ruins his day now) and you can totally hear that. But the keyboard playing & singing (which still must be manipulated on a computer I assume) keeps it Blakean.

loved that mix.

james blake is probably the most insane 180 degree turn i have ever done on an artist.
used to pop into Fopp during my lunchhour and his debut was always on.
hated it.
fast forward to a couple of years ago when one of my lads bought me 'assume form' for xmas.
and yeah, that penny dropped hard.
his recent mad video re 'big hammer' = massive WTF.
loved it.

Haha wow, I'm the exact opposite. Obsessed with the first three EPs and the debut album, and while I've liked a track here and there since, I've been mostly wanting him to release something that gives me the same feeling. And I think Big Hammer is the worst track on the new one, lol (it is a cool video though).

i love Big Hammer.
such a mad mad track for a supposed major artist ..

I'll give it another shot. I want him to make even madder tracks like he used to!

also .. album release today.
yet his website/amazon etc says sept 22 !?

i think i love Big Hammer cos it's clearly james just having fun and trying to break out of the sadcore groove that he is predominantly known for.

latest jb has won me back. "i want you to know" is maybe my favorite thing he's yet done and the rest of the album is crazy diverse in the best ways. chaotic and experimental one moment, pretty and beat-heavy the next. really feels like he's pushing himself again. he's definitely not on autopilot for this one.

gearing up for the new mount kimbie, i found this live recording of 'maybes' off the crooks+lovers sampler-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKkFGYgzF1o
mount kimbie - 'maybes (live in berghain)' (2010)

New album is amazing. Strong Motorik vibes

From the singles it sounds like they've fully transitioned into indie rock, which is not super interesting to me. Definitely a bit of trend among dance and dance-adjacent producers though.

i mean city planning was all straight up beats...

but the new album is back to their more song-oriented material. definitely sounds like the spiritual follow-up to love what survives. they had quite a few songs available pre-release + it's only a 35 minute album. overall it sounds like them ―which is indie synth nerds who grew up on new wave, hiphop, + rave. "empty+silent" is early soty status.