two full listens in, this shit is fantastic. just as good as his S/T debut, and he's def added some range to his sound while still keeping it church boy trapped in a computer deconstructing bass lines and textures
15. "Was even better than I could hope" In response to Reply # 0
His first album was in heavy rotation when a couple of months, I think this once will be as well. I like where he took things sonically, the debut felt very grey but this one is a lot more colourful and yet just as harrowing
21. "for me, it's the feeling of being adrift." In response to Reply # 20
and this wasn't always the case, it's just something I've been thinking about with this album. I'm still not used to Blake as a "pop star", as I'd assume most people who've been following since 2010 would. Him being a full-time vocalist is still a bit of a surprise to me, though his phrasing does often remind me of a more subdued Antony. I like that kind of stuff, it's the white soul I lean towards, bringing in some of that emo/theatrical affectation and kind of catching words in your throat. It's a neat sound, to me.
But yea, for me Blake's main appeal is still as a producer/engineer, since I came up with him on tracks like "The Bells Sketch" and "Air & Lack Thereof" - remember when this was called dubstep? We thought the vocals on those tracks were samples, chopped ala Burial into haunted waifs. For me that was the appeal of his self-titled, despite the songy-ness, it was a lot of sketchwork and atmosphere.
Overgrown is MUCH more of an album's album, you wouldn't have caught Blake doing a song like "Voyeur" two years ago. It's a great "sun's not up but I've got a cigarette and some coffee" album. There's very little of what made him unique initially, and I find that story of piggybacking off the apex of the dubstep 12" scene only to reveal yourself as an aspiring 'pop star' a pretty fun one to look back on now that it's pretty obvious he pulled it off.
24. "RE: i wanna like this guy." In response to Reply # 20
I feel you fam. I was the same way. When the first album dropped I just couldn't rock with it. I gave it several listens and it just didn't work but one day while it was snowing, I sat on my patio watching it fall while listening to that first album and shit just clicked. Been riding for him ever since. Its definitely mood music but very good IMO.
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42. "Well said. All of it." In response to Reply # 29
>it's not. there's access to too much music to try and get >into soemthing that's not clicking after a couple of >listens/tracks > >i listen to him for mood, fractured melodies, and his >brilliant use of synthetic harmonies. > >overall his music sounds like the perfect sound of lost >romantics in a technological world
32. "he a white version of steve spacek." In response to Reply # 20
_______________________________________ When discourse of Blackness is not connected to efforts to promote collective black self determinism it becomes simply another recourse appropriated by the colonizer
it is the definition of sophistication, nuance, and mood. I feel like this is what he was going for on the s/t, but it just felt so empty and non existent. He's committed to actual ideas here.
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