It's hard to classify James Blake's sound (I tried earlier this year) but the gist here is that Blake's love of UK Garage and Dubstep is just as prevalent as his passion for R&B. It's a chugging, futuristic hybrid of the aforementioned genres, heavy on samples and expertly produced.
With Blake's first release, The Bells Sketch EP, we find the London electronic producer at his most, well, electronic. There's a greater focus on loops and the vocals are virtually artificial. Flash-forward a year (and three separate releases) and Blake has made a name for himself as pioneering force in the experimental electronic sub-genres. So what better way to address his ever-changing musical direction than to revisit an old song from an early EP?
“Give a Man a Rod (Second Version)” answers this with whirlwind of clanking samples and hesitating drum beats. It's a noticeably aggressive song, taking the original and adding a shot of adrenaline that fills the production and expands the song like you would never expect it to. It's to the point where I'm almost under the assumption that this was the original – which, in it's own right, is a very good song – but filled in with numerous samples, bass drones, and sliced-and-diced vocals. Blake accomplishes everything he needs here, and in doing so, provides a little more for his fans as we await his next release.
4/5
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