The king of what has been referred to as “minimalist post–dubstep” is back with a highly anticipated EP, entitled Enough Thunder. The striking feature of this preview of James Blake’s upcoming work is its departure from the previous album’s bass–filled tracks and heavy distortions toward something much softer and more experimental. Enough Thunder spotlights James Blake’s gorgeous voice and piano mastery more than his exquisite electronic manipulation of music, resulting in six stripped–down tracks that hold their own special magic.
“Fall Creek Boys Choir” is the track that stands out as the most powerful. Bon Iver and James Blake: it seems like such an obvious collaboration now that their names sit next to each other. The just–right dissonance of their voices, Bon Iver’s hypnotic falsetto merged with James Blake’s subtle, grave distortions, and the minimalist rhythm that kicks in halfway through the song are the perfect recipe for spellbinding the listener. You won't be surprised to open your eyes and find yourself in the middle of some dark, enchanted forest after listening to it for the first time.
The final track, “Enough Thunder,” is the clear signature of the EP’s hallmarks. The song, which is entirely bass–less, is centered on intricate piano riffs followed by almost church–like chords. James Blake’s undecipherable lyrics – apart from the one line “we can hold the heartbreak down,” repeated over and over again like a hopeful prayer – have a whisper quality to them.
The contrast between his previous album and this one is nicely embodied by the contrast between two tracks that follow each other: the more bass–heavy, lo–fi “We Might Feel Unsound,” followed by the ballad “A Case of You,” where nothing but his slightly crackled voice and piano team up to the delight of our ears.
Overall, if you were looking to jump from side to side and bop your head like the slightly crazed girl that I was next to at his concert last Saturday, Enough Thunder might actually not be enough to satisfy your antsy–ness. But if you're ready to take it in and all its sad beauty, eyes closed and lights down low, to let yourself be wrapped up and lulled away from a world that has known too much noise, too much aggressiveness, too much thunder – it definitely will not let you down.
4/5 stars Sounds like: James Vincent McMorrow on ‘shrooms. Good for: Rocking your stoned self to sleep after a late night. 99–cent download: "Fall Creek Boys Choi"
