January’s Album Of The Month James Blake – Assume Form

In many ways Assume Form is both a perfect title and metaphor for both this album and James Blake; it’s a record by an artist with hundreds of millions of streams to his name but it still feels in places like a series of sure footed experiments, the work of an artist who is just as happy seen disassembled as being what we might want him to be.

A bold but delicate mix of hip-hop, arcing beats and Blake’s own often tremulous voice, his choice of collaborators – Andre 3000, Moses Sumney, Travis Scott amongst others – would intimidate or overpower many, but to his credit the joint canvas they paint is rich, soulful and intuitive enough to make Assume Form as near-revelatory as possible.

Also worth listening to..

The Delines – The Imperial

Toro Y Moi – Outer Peace

The Twilight Sad – It Won’t Be Like This All The Time

Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

Pic: James Blake, Courtesy of Republic Records