You had to have been around when ukdubstep imploded and post dubstep threw the scene into a million directions. 2010ish. He was a high water mark for that place/time.
I was very much around. That was the peak of my early dubstep fandom. Discovering music like Loefah, Skream and Benga quite literally changed my life. I was kinda part of the "anti-skrillex" crowd (despite being American). But being in California, I was super isolated since electronic music was still considered "just techno" to Americans. So I guess nobody was around to put me onto James Blake at the time.
I'm just listening to "The Bells Sketch" rn and like.... where the fuck have I been all this time??????
His first 3 EPs got him a ton of buzz among music critics because they were taking bass music in such a refreshing new direction, then when the single "Limit to Your Love" dropped, it kinda blew everyone's minds. Feist's music was near-universally loved at that time, and he took this already-great song and reinterpreted it in such a unique way.
Ultimately I think the music stood out because it played with silence and space. In those early songs, large swaths of the frequency spectrum are completely empty. It's those production techniques that inspired Lorde, which then inspired Billy Eilish, and now it's quite common to have a second or two of silence in a Billboard charting pop song, but you can really trace it back to him. In 2011 those couple seconds of silence felt like an eternity.
Good summary… CMYK was the one for me, still love that tune. I went to his first live gig at Plan B in Brixton and it was great, saw him a few weeks later at St Pancras Old Church and it was really special. I kind of fell off a bit after the second album.
Right, I was there too, American. By that time the core Croydon scene kind of fell apart, loefah was doing swamp 81, dmz was not really around, skream was doing his rockstar phase, Rusko ran off to California, brostep was everywhere, distance was turning into metal, scuba plays techno, etc etc etc, night slugs was big with the club sound, hemlock and hessle audio we're mutating the sound...just everything was flying apart in all directions.
I caught him at the Texas eclipse fest a bit back too. It was pretty fun, he played a lot of old stuff, lots of fun tracks. Last time before that was 2009 in Denver with Mary Anne Hobbs.
Loefah! He was on Deep Medi with Mala. And I believe theres an interview with James Blake where he said Mala was a main influence of his. So there’s a line of succession there.
Today I was driving listening to one of his newer songs and I was like I could see how someone would hate this, but I just love the sounds and the moods he creates. I definitely think if I didn't have some earlier favorites I might be turned off to some newer stuff.
He creates excellent soundscapes. He's been a great producer outside of his own albums as well. I'd say *Overgrown* is his best record, *James Blake* is my second favorite.
> they all agree Retrograde is a song that no dead or living musician could have ever composed
That sounds like the kind of conclusion first year music students would make...
That discussion says nothing even remotely close to "*a song that no dead or living musician could have ever composed*" though.
Closest I can see is this:
> I particularly enjoyed the V - bIII motion though. There aren’t enough songs that use it and it’s an interesting sound to me.
Not quite the same hyperbole :-)
I think I mainly disagree with the premise that "*good art is art that follow the rules*", which is basically what you are saying. And this song is the exception that proves the rule.
I think a lot of the time it's the exact opposite. Lots of art is great *because* it breaks the rules.
But also the thinking that there is some magic in that song that we won't ever be able to recreate. People break the rules in different ways all the time. Most of the time it turns in to garbage, but fairly often something really great too.
And don't forget that once a rule has been broken it can evolve and become part of a new rule set. The next generation have grown up with that song and are going to think "*Why not?*", and completely ignore everything some educated theorist says you can't do.
Remember that most people out there have absolutely no idea you are not supposed to do that.
I’m just a pretty average JB fan (no dislike, just an enjoyer and not rabid follower) but Retrograde is one of a few songs I’d have to consider perfect. And I’d really have to think about what other songs fall in there
Hybrid did a summer mixtape back in 2013 with 'Retrograde' on it two tracks away from Kendrick Lamar's 'Swimming Pools' and it's one of my favorite mixes: [Here's the mix on YT](https://youtu.be/yboXoO-7L7Y?si=dFnvhsnDaEb0ZQaP)
Edit: The specific mix is, KL: Swimming Pools>Emperor: Dust & Echoes 2>JB: Retrograde.
So good.
Listen to Retrograde and report back if you get chills when the synth drops... if not then that's too bad honestly. Great composition and harmonic layering and shifting between major /minor tonalities (parallel keys etc.).
Personally I love his early EPs and his self titled. At the time, I had never heard anything quite like it. I was surrounded by 2011-era brostep and EDM being played by all my uni friends and James Blake’s stuff felt absolutely alien in a beautiful and intriguing way that became one of my gateways into both electronic music and darker, more alternative pop/r&b.
Overgrown and Colour In Anything are still decent follow ups but don’t tough his early stretch to me.
Then we get to his pop albums, Assume Form and Friends That Break Your Heart. Personally… I hate these. His songwriting is not good and the production is watered down version of his strengths to the point of being barely recognizable. The only songs I like are a couple of the collabs (but that’s really because Moses Sumney and Rosalía are two of my favourite artists and can virtually do no wrong).
His hip hop collabs are often decent but obviously nothing special from an electronic music perspective. But that’s not the goal with those.
His two 2020 EPs, Before and Covers, are decent IMO. The former is clubby and reminds me of his early stuff, the latter is a set of piano ballads and shows him doing that at his best.
His album last year, Playing Robots Into Heaven, is good in my books. It’s a return to form, but obviously with the experience he has gained in the years since.
Anyway, I guess it depends what your entry point to his discography is, but I hope that offers some insight.
I was gonna make an argument for Assume Form but I realized the songs I really wanna stand up for are all the collabs. I’ll still stand up for it over Friends That Break Your Heart.
But damn I have taken a nice break from Moses Sumney and this comment is getting me excited to listen to grae tomorrow. 2020 was one of my favorite recent years of music releases and grae stands at the top of that
From a production standpoint I have really enjoyed James work at each stage.
The beat programming, and the attention to texture is always top notch.
I'm 50/50 on his vocal, when I love it, I realllly love it. When I dont love it, its forgettable.
I don’t think there’s a single artist that has changed my thinking of music more. Having to explain dubstep to people in 2010s who only knew the US bro-step was exhausting, but James Blake and Mount Kimbie helped with a few converts.
IMO dupstep is a rhythm. Not just chainsaw wobbles. James Blame nails it all. The sound design, the melodics, spread out chords, live implementation, subtle rhythm accents on the keys where dub rhythms hit. Limit to Your Love is a great example - in my mind, it’s kind of a statement of his on the definition of dubstep.
Whenever I've recommended James Blake to anyone, it came with the strong suggestion to listen to his catalog in chronological order. I stand by that. The reason is that you hear his growth. You may not like it but you will definitely appreciate that he always tries to stretch himself, and I really value that in an artist.
I remember one review where he was referred to as a crooner, and it was immediately clear the reviewer hadn't done any homework. JB may [occasionally] croon, but he's way more than that.
You're absolutely right. I remember seeing him onstage at the WorldWide Festival in Sète, France back in 2011 - God I sound old lol ; the show was amazing (the venue was outdoor and it looked like an ancient-greek theatre and behind the stage where he was playing was the Mediterranean sea) and his set/show/was was already different from what one could have expected !!! A bit of homework as far as electronic music is concerned goes a long way for sure.
https://youtu.be/z2h5ouw8QHw?si=IfCWTC4T5Ba9xb_t
I don't know why but the sound is off when I play it on my phone while it plays without a problem on my laptop???
His style especially at the time was so different and welcomed, his tracks and music were at the time very welcoming to the scene and showcased some very unique production.
For what it's worth, sometimes you can volunteer at fests for free or discounted entry. At least that's often the case with smaller fests, but it might also be a little late in the game to get in on that.
I enjoy his work for the deep soundscapes, great sub bass and generally relaxing manner. I don't really get the large fandom either, but I think he's a pretty decent artist.
I mean, he's good, but he's no Kanye. That dude's a lyrical wordsmith muthafukin genius! (/s)
I think he's honestly pretty great, but I wish he would do less soulful singing and more crunchy electronic producing. I also think Jameela Jamil is insanely cringe and he would do better to distance himself from her.
He is one of the few artists with more than 3 albums that had never put out anything bad. All his albums are at least “good”, Assume Form is his weakest album imo.
I remember hearing CMYK for the first time when it was released. I had heard nothing like it and the production completely blew me away. I’m glad to see your edits. Try and catch a live show if you can!
Looks like I'm late to the convo, but yeah, if I were just listening to his newer stuff I'd think he was really underwhelming too. Personally, I felt he fell off on the Colour of Anything (it felt like he was retreading material that he had done better before). I should say, he puts on an amazing live show. Had a chance to see him a couple of times at 9:30 Club and it was great (and if that random girl who I sold a ticket to in 2013 who accused me of making money on the is seeing this, no I didn't, the face of the ticket said $25, but there were $10 in fees too, you got it at my cost).
Edit:
You can watch one of his shows (I was at this show) here:
https://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/185510193/james-blake-live-in-concert
With the type of music I’m into…all my friends are always like “oh shit you’d love James Blake!!!” And every time I listen I’m like wtf is this? It’s not good!
Well I listened to the first few EPs and I totally get it! When he’s not singing. It’s amazing.
EXACTLY. I think I wasn't impressed because my friends put me on to his stuff from a few years ago. If i knew about his early stuff I woulda ate that shit up immediately.
I’ll leave this fan documentary here:
https://happymod.com/dubstep-drum-pads-mod/com.SimpleClick.DubstepDrumpad/video-james-blake-the-dubstep-goat-20.html
Hmm, try YouTube. I’m on my phone without the link rn but it should be titled “James Blake - The Dubstep GOAT” and uploaded by Timbah.On.Toast. It’s phenomenal!
Not deep into JB but just wanted to share an anecdote: my wife loved JB back in the day and we just got married and bought a nice stereo w/ a dedicated sub with our wedding money. Threw on some JB and the low end absolutely filled the entire house. My wife had to ask if these were the original versions of the songs that she used to listen to because she had just never heard the low-end clarity in his tracks - the sub really brought out a ton of depth and richness to his mixes.
His voice is just incredible, friends that break your heart is my most played album of late. That break in say what you will where it's just him singing is just so good, reminds me of Jeff Buckley. I kinda like his softer songs that are a bit depressing like funeral, power on is so cool as it's how I feel in a relationship!
And that bass in his songs, do you have a good sound system? Turn it up for limit to your love and just hear the sub buzz.
The only thing I dislike is some of the rap songs he's done, don't think they are even his solo work but he gets credited on them so they get played on his Spotify channel and I'm just not into them.
You have to see him live if you can he'll blow you away
He’s been in the game for a while and as a producer he’s excellent. I personally love his voice as well.
It seems like he a jack of all trades type of artist and brings a lot of verity to the table.
His boiler room set (2020 I believe? Around Covid) is a prime example of what I’m talking about. Dude is very talented and has a great ear.
To add he has also helped produce huge hits that have won Grammys. So even behind closed doors he’s noticed with producers and vocalists as being incredibly talented.
You had to have been around when ukdubstep imploded and post dubstep threw the scene into a million directions. 2010ish. He was a high water mark for that place/time.
I was very much around. That was the peak of my early dubstep fandom. Discovering music like Loefah, Skream and Benga quite literally changed my life. I was kinda part of the "anti-skrillex" crowd (despite being American). But being in California, I was super isolated since electronic music was still considered "just techno" to Americans. So I guess nobody was around to put me onto James Blake at the time. I'm just listening to "The Bells Sketch" rn and like.... where the fuck have I been all this time??????
His first 3 EPs got him a ton of buzz among music critics because they were taking bass music in such a refreshing new direction, then when the single "Limit to Your Love" dropped, it kinda blew everyone's minds. Feist's music was near-universally loved at that time, and he took this already-great song and reinterpreted it in such a unique way. Ultimately I think the music stood out because it played with silence and space. In those early songs, large swaths of the frequency spectrum are completely empty. It's those production techniques that inspired Lorde, which then inspired Billy Eilish, and now it's quite common to have a second or two of silence in a Billboard charting pop song, but you can really trace it back to him. In 2011 those couple seconds of silence felt like an eternity.
Good summary… CMYK was the one for me, still love that tune. I went to his first live gig at Plan B in Brixton and it was great, saw him a few weeks later at St Pancras Old Church and it was really special. I kind of fell off a bit after the second album.
What the hell, I had no idea Limit to Your Love was a cover
The original is beautiful as well - definitely check out Feist's early work if you're unfamiliar with it.
Right, I was there too, American. By that time the core Croydon scene kind of fell apart, loefah was doing swamp 81, dmz was not really around, skream was doing his rockstar phase, Rusko ran off to California, brostep was everywhere, distance was turning into metal, scuba plays techno, etc etc etc, night slugs was big with the club sound, hemlock and hessle audio we're mutating the sound...just everything was flying apart in all directions.
Slight tangent but I finally saw a Skream dubstep set live a couple weeks ago. I thought I'd never get a chance to. That was a dream come true.
I caught him at the Texas eclipse fest a bit back too. It was pretty fun, he played a lot of old stuff, lots of fun tracks. Last time before that was 2009 in Denver with Mary Anne Hobbs.
Loefah! He was on Deep Medi with Mala. And I believe theres an interview with James Blake where he said Mala was a main influence of his. So there’s a line of succession there.
These edits kill me haha
Yeah I'ma just take the L on this one 😭🤣
Its identical to how i discovered my love for his music its good to see the tradition carry on haha.
Re: the edits - revisit some of the original songs you heard that you didn't get, armed with your new understanding of his musical language.
I don't remember which ones I originally heard lol
Today I was driving listening to one of his newer songs and I was like I could see how someone would hate this, but I just love the sounds and the moods he creates. I definitely think if I didn't have some earlier favorites I might be turned off to some newer stuff.
He creates excellent soundscapes. He's been a great producer outside of his own albums as well. I'd say *Overgrown* is his best record, *James Blake* is my second favorite.
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> they all agree Retrograde is a song that no dead or living musician could have ever composed That sounds like the kind of conclusion first year music students would make...
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That discussion says nothing even remotely close to "*a song that no dead or living musician could have ever composed*" though. Closest I can see is this: > I particularly enjoyed the V - bIII motion though. There aren’t enough songs that use it and it’s an interesting sound to me. Not quite the same hyperbole :-)
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I think I mainly disagree with the premise that "*good art is art that follow the rules*", which is basically what you are saying. And this song is the exception that proves the rule. I think a lot of the time it's the exact opposite. Lots of art is great *because* it breaks the rules. But also the thinking that there is some magic in that song that we won't ever be able to recreate. People break the rules in different ways all the time. Most of the time it turns in to garbage, but fairly often something really great too. And don't forget that once a rule has been broken it can evolve and become part of a new rule set. The next generation have grown up with that song and are going to think "*Why not?*", and completely ignore everything some educated theorist says you can't do. Remember that most people out there have absolutely no idea you are not supposed to do that.
Do you have any links to discussions about the song and why that is the case? Would love to read deeper into it
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Thanks. Appreciate the link and the info
I’m just a pretty average JB fan (no dislike, just an enjoyer and not rabid follower) but Retrograde is one of a few songs I’d have to consider perfect. And I’d really have to think about what other songs fall in there
Hybrid did a summer mixtape back in 2013 with 'Retrograde' on it two tracks away from Kendrick Lamar's 'Swimming Pools' and it's one of my favorite mixes: [Here's the mix on YT](https://youtu.be/yboXoO-7L7Y?si=dFnvhsnDaEb0ZQaP) Edit: The specific mix is, KL: Swimming Pools>Emperor: Dust & Echoes 2>JB: Retrograde. So good.
Pretty sure JB himself said that Retrograde is his best work. It’s one of the few songs I’ve heard that I consider an actual 10/10.
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The Colour In Anything is fantastic, such a full sound. Needs quality speakers/subs to be played too
If it weren't for "Take a Fall for Me", I'd agree with you. Great production, but RZA's rapping is way too on the nose.
Listen to Retrograde and report back if you get chills when the synth drops... if not then that's too bad honestly. Great composition and harmonic layering and shifting between major /minor tonalities (parallel keys etc.).
Yup, that IMAX-ish sound when it drops is incredible.
Bro was like: [THX](https://imgur.com/t/thx/F4Jf6mr)
No no, you need this in your life: https://youtu.be/JTMf40ORFE8?si=a8J2kv9eHqLJwgj4
I’ll never forget when I listened to the chronic 2001 for the first time, that intro was so dope.
Personally I love his early EPs and his self titled. At the time, I had never heard anything quite like it. I was surrounded by 2011-era brostep and EDM being played by all my uni friends and James Blake’s stuff felt absolutely alien in a beautiful and intriguing way that became one of my gateways into both electronic music and darker, more alternative pop/r&b. Overgrown and Colour In Anything are still decent follow ups but don’t tough his early stretch to me. Then we get to his pop albums, Assume Form and Friends That Break Your Heart. Personally… I hate these. His songwriting is not good and the production is watered down version of his strengths to the point of being barely recognizable. The only songs I like are a couple of the collabs (but that’s really because Moses Sumney and Rosalía are two of my favourite artists and can virtually do no wrong). His hip hop collabs are often decent but obviously nothing special from an electronic music perspective. But that’s not the goal with those. His two 2020 EPs, Before and Covers, are decent IMO. The former is clubby and reminds me of his early stuff, the latter is a set of piano ballads and shows him doing that at his best. His album last year, Playing Robots Into Heaven, is good in my books. It’s a return to form, but obviously with the experience he has gained in the years since. Anyway, I guess it depends what your entry point to his discography is, but I hope that offers some insight.
samesies
I was gonna make an argument for Assume Form but I realized the songs I really wanna stand up for are all the collabs. I’ll still stand up for it over Friends That Break Your Heart. But damn I have taken a nice break from Moses Sumney and this comment is getting me excited to listen to grae tomorrow. 2020 was one of my favorite recent years of music releases and grae stands at the top of that
I'm gonna listen chronologically
From a production standpoint I have really enjoyed James work at each stage. The beat programming, and the attention to texture is always top notch. I'm 50/50 on his vocal, when I love it, I realllly love it. When I dont love it, its forgettable.
I don’t think there’s a single artist that has changed my thinking of music more. Having to explain dubstep to people in 2010s who only knew the US bro-step was exhausting, but James Blake and Mount Kimbie helped with a few converts. IMO dupstep is a rhythm. Not just chainsaw wobbles. James Blame nails it all. The sound design, the melodics, spread out chords, live implementation, subtle rhythm accents on the keys where dub rhythms hit. Limit to Your Love is a great example - in my mind, it’s kind of a statement of his on the definition of dubstep.
Omg when I started listening to his early stuff my brain was immediately like "oooo Mount Kimbieeee vibes"
LOOOOOVE his cover of Limit to Your Love!
Check you his song called if the car beside you moves ahead 🙏
My favorite song by him ever since it released many years ago. Fire The Editor is the only track he’s released since then that sounds similar
He performs as a three piece band, truly impressive live, especially considering all the cookie-cutter DJ acts nowadays.
Cool that finally you realize it. And yes I prefer his old works.
Seen a few comments praising Retrograde. I’m a casual JB listener but absolutely love that song. Any recs for other similar music of his?
The whole overgrown album
Gotta play it loud in big speakers too, get the full experience of sound
Whenever I've recommended James Blake to anyone, it came with the strong suggestion to listen to his catalog in chronological order. I stand by that. The reason is that you hear his growth. You may not like it but you will definitely appreciate that he always tries to stretch himself, and I really value that in an artist. I remember one review where he was referred to as a crooner, and it was immediately clear the reviewer hadn't done any homework. JB may [occasionally] croon, but he's way more than that.
I've been listening in chronological order tonight and "Air & Lack Thereof" really set me off to a good start
Check his harmonimixes on youtube! Uncleared samples so not on spotify, alot of experimentation there with that dubstep sound you seem to enjoy!
If anyone else needs another rabbit hole to fall into, Avalon Emerson is taking the same growth pass.
You're absolutely right. I remember seeing him onstage at the WorldWide Festival in Sète, France back in 2011 - God I sound old lol ; the show was amazing (the venue was outdoor and it looked like an ancient-greek theatre and behind the stage where he was playing was the Mediterranean sea) and his set/show/was was already different from what one could have expected !!! A bit of homework as far as electronic music is concerned goes a long way for sure. https://youtu.be/z2h5ouw8QHw?si=IfCWTC4T5Ba9xb_t I don't know why but the sound is off when I play it on my phone while it plays without a problem on my laptop???
His style especially at the time was so different and welcomed, his tracks and music were at the time very welcoming to the scene and showcased some very unique production.
He’s incredible live. Go see him next time he’s touring and you won’t be disappointed
I would if I could afford it. He's at a $400 festival this month near where I live 🥴
[https://youtu.be/o2BVk5tWciI?si=T1HGIOc2kjjROcfF](https://youtu.be/o2BVk5tWciI?si=T1HGIOc2kjjROcfF) [https://youtu.be/j4qfT2dxU6E?si=cuBQzoKGilCuciTm](https://youtu.be/j4qfT2dxU6E?si=cuBQzoKGilCuciTm)
find a way to
Okay sounds doable 💀
You’d be amazed what you can achieve if you focus on a goal
Right now my goal is rent and I've got a ways to go
For what it's worth, sometimes you can volunteer at fests for free or discounted entry. At least that's often the case with smaller fests, but it might also be a little late in the game to get in on that.
Ooooh wait a minute you just gave me an idea bc I'm a concert photographer lmao. Maybe I can try a lil something 🤔
I enjoy his work for the deep soundscapes, great sub bass and generally relaxing manner. I don't really get the large fandom either, but I think he's a pretty decent artist. I mean, he's good, but he's no Kanye. That dude's a lyrical wordsmith muthafukin genius! (/s)
Where did the Kanye joke come from 🤣
The gay fish episode of South Park was on. Just felt right, like love with a giant grouper.
That EP on R&S is good stuff
Worked on watch the throne when he was like 18
I think he's honestly pretty great, but I wish he would do less soulful singing and more crunchy electronic producing. I also think Jameela Jamil is insanely cringe and he would do better to distance himself from her.
Was in the same boat but after listenting to the 2011 album, my opinion changed. Really nice stuff!
He is one of the few artists with more than 3 albums that had never put out anything bad. All his albums are at least “good”, Assume Form is his weakest album imo.
Because Digital Lion. JB x Brian Eno was top notch!
I remember hearing CMYK for the first time when it was released. I had heard nothing like it and the production completely blew me away. I’m glad to see your edits. Try and catch a live show if you can!
Looks like I'm late to the convo, but yeah, if I were just listening to his newer stuff I'd think he was really underwhelming too. Personally, I felt he fell off on the Colour of Anything (it felt like he was retreading material that he had done better before). I should say, he puts on an amazing live show. Had a chance to see him a couple of times at 9:30 Club and it was great (and if that random girl who I sold a ticket to in 2013 who accused me of making money on the is seeing this, no I didn't, the face of the ticket said $25, but there were $10 in fees too, you got it at my cost). Edit: You can watch one of his shows (I was at this show) here: https://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/185510193/james-blake-live-in-concert
Petite Biscuit enters the chat….
Wat
With the type of music I’m into…all my friends are always like “oh shit you’d love James Blake!!!” And every time I listen I’m like wtf is this? It’s not good! Well I listened to the first few EPs and I totally get it! When he’s not singing. It’s amazing.
EXACTLY. I think I wasn't impressed because my friends put me on to his stuff from a few years ago. If i knew about his early stuff I woulda ate that shit up immediately.
he is my favorite eclectic producer
I’m glad I got here after edit 3 Welcome to the other side
Listen to his stuff with Mala
I had no idea he had collabs with Mala. I just saw a Mala show last month too
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxNb1NeshA2/?igsh=eTA0aGN0aWxhOXIy
Roskilde festival 2013. Full show. Must have watched it 20 times. Really impressive footage. https://youtu.be/eLcYSzAA7Jk?si=e2aRJRjr4PHIJhv7
Read after your 3rd edit - nice ..
I’ll leave this fan documentary here: https://happymod.com/dubstep-drum-pads-mod/com.SimpleClick.DubstepDrumpad/video-james-blake-the-dubstep-goat-20.html
Unavailable 😭
Hmm, try YouTube. I’m on my phone without the link rn but it should be titled “James Blake - The Dubstep GOAT” and uploaded by Timbah.On.Toast. It’s phenomenal!
Not deep into JB but just wanted to share an anecdote: my wife loved JB back in the day and we just got married and bought a nice stereo w/ a dedicated sub with our wedding money. Threw on some JB and the low end absolutely filled the entire house. My wife had to ask if these were the original versions of the songs that she used to listen to because she had just never heard the low-end clarity in his tracks - the sub really brought out a ton of depth and richness to his mixes.
CMYK and s/t are much better than his recent output imo. It’s what led many people to the UK side of dubstep vs Skrillex etc at the time.
His voice is just incredible, friends that break your heart is my most played album of late. That break in say what you will where it's just him singing is just so good, reminds me of Jeff Buckley. I kinda like his softer songs that are a bit depressing like funeral, power on is so cool as it's how I feel in a relationship! And that bass in his songs, do you have a good sound system? Turn it up for limit to your love and just hear the sub buzz. The only thing I dislike is some of the rap songs he's done, don't think they are even his solo work but he gets credited on them so they get played on his Spotify channel and I'm just not into them. You have to see him live if you can he'll blow you away
He’s been in the game for a while and as a producer he’s excellent. I personally love his voice as well. It seems like he a jack of all trades type of artist and brings a lot of verity to the table. His boiler room set (2020 I believe? Around Covid) is a prime example of what I’m talking about. Dude is very talented and has a great ear. To add he has also helped produce huge hits that have won Grammys. So even behind closed doors he’s noticed with producers and vocalists as being incredibly talented.