Considering he’s a singer who usually makes choirs of angels sound like they ought to put a bit more effort in, it’s surprising that the only Grammy on James Blake’s shelf so far is for Best Rap Performance. That was for his contribution to King’s Dead, a song from the Black Panther soundtrack that also featured Kendrick Lamar, Future and Jay Rock – just one example of the LA-based Londoner becoming one of hip hop’s most in-demand collaborators.
On his fifth solo album, though the preamble has suggested it’s his happiest work to date, he’s still shedding tears a long way from the dancefloor. He’s blissfully loved up over alien blips on I’m So Blessed You’re Mine. Foot Forward sounds relatively straightforward for him, taking an optimistic view of the loss of a friendship over rolling piano chords. But on If I’m Insecure, he’s back on familiar ground, wondering: “If I’m so happy/How am I losing all this sleep?” over the merest waft of synthesizer.
Unlike its predecessor, Assume Form, he’s steered clear of the starriest names. The biggest guest is acclaimed R&B singer SZA on Coming Back, which maintains a pretty melody despite sounding like several songs spliced together. Rappers JID and SwaVay provide a greater contrast on Frozen, low and growly and jittery and hyperactive in turn.
As ever, Blake experiments with his own voice too, starting Say What You Will with a deep croak. The whole thing is a refining of his style, but no great leap.
