Overgrown

 

So, I was brainstorming which album I should review first on my blog. I then realized it was a no-brainer. James! I mean, c’mon, have you even heard his music? I don’t think I know one person who doesn’t enjoy him. It’s hard not to enjoy this 22-year old’s brilliantly produced syncopated electronic music.

 

His new album, Overgrown literally left me speechless and wanting more the first time I sat down to listen to it. When I say wanting more, I literally mean it was being played all day, all night, and when it wasn’t, a song was being hummed or my brain was repeating songs from the album over and over. (I told you my life is literally music, ha.)

 

Overgrown does not miss a beat. It is straight up inspiration, abundant with raw, genuine emotion. Mesmerizing melodies and harmonies, along with James’ hauntingly deep, and moody vocals. Cannot. Get. Enough. The whole album maintains a warm atmosphere, a steady pulse. Never too much, and never too little. It was tough picking one track I favoured most, and that really stood out to me – they are all brilliant! However, I did realize there was one that stuck with me,  “I Am Sold“. This piano-based track starts simple, and then proceeds to sprawl into a soft, sexy bass-filled drum loop. The lyrics though, are what continuously resonated through my brain, one of James’ fortes; to engage the audience with beautiful, relatable lyrics: “and we lay nocturnal, speculating what we feel.” Well done, James, you have done it once again! You are the master of emotional speculation, and I will speculate what I feel about this album for many more days to come. I am – in every sense of this tracks title – sold.

 

So, there it is. I hiiiiiighly recommend everyone to take an in depth listen to this album. Shut your lights off, close your eyes, lay on your bed and get sucked into the cosmic atmosphere that is Overgrown. Ahhhh, James Blake! What are you doing to us?! Your capabilities to continuously melt your every listener into a big puddle of emotions is relentless. Thank you for existing.

xo

 

The hauntingly gorgeous music video for James Blake, “Overgrown”.