James Blake has changed so much as an artist partly because of his youth, but partly through collaboration with other artists. Most notable is Justin Vernon from Bon Hiver which has resulted in multiple recordings featuring vocal layering and texture.

Blake is also trying to create music that is still analog, or should we say non pre-recorded. He made note of that durign the set saying ” no abletons or synthesizers were used in the performance. This is a real tribute as there is a great deal of temptation out there to dabble in the dark arts of using non-original music.

Instead, Blake relies upon guitarist to produce riffs which are then put through an effects pedal to produce a sound which mimics downbeat or dubstep music. An attention to detail and exactness is apparent in his music as even the snap of a single snare can be heard by the audience.

Producing all the msuic organically with expert sound micing can be a real treat for the audience, it pulls them in and makes them listen or linger on every work. Blake used this to fantastic effect on poplar singles such as “Life Round Here” as well as other classics played that evening such as “Retrograde,” “The Wilhelm Scream,” and “Voyeur,” and “I Hope My Life.” WIthout much of a light show to speak of, the audience was truly fixated on Blake and his intriguing eyes the whole night. It’s hard to be intimate with a crowd of 15,000 people, but Blake certainly seemed to succeed at this.

o-Setlist-
Life Round Here
Choose Me
Timeless
Radio Silence
Limit to Your Love (Feist cover)
Lindisfarne
Love Me in Whatever Way
I Hope My Life
Voyeur
Klavierwerke
Modern Soul
Retrograde
The Wilhelm Scream