James Blake Shows Many Sides at a Sold-Out Terminal 5 on Sunday
James Blake – Terminal 5 – February 24, 2019
James Blake is Rorschach test of sorts. He’s a singer-songwriter, a pianist, a producer. He folds R&B into body-thumping bass, trap into lyrical trance, dubstep into ballads. You can see in him what you wish and it will make perfect sense. That is both the artistry, and the commercialism, of Blake’s work. He’s found immense success in a relatively short career, so it was no surprise Sunday when he packed Terminal 5, touring in promotion of his fourth and latest album, Assume Form. Blake’s bewitching vocals carried the evening, as they have his career. He opened with the title track off the new album, which puts front and center his characteristic near-whine soprano and delicate piano work. An eager audience thrilled at early favorite “Limit to Your Love,” perhaps the best example of Blake’s beautiful vocal control. Also off the new album, “Are You in Love?” gave his vibratos, lilts and falsettos the most room to play. He’s no stranger to big-name collaborations, having worked with Bon Iver and Frank Ocean, among others. But Assume is chock-full of features: Rosalía, Travis Scott, André 3000, Moses Sumney. One wouldn’t be faulted for feeling hesitant that such a guest-heavy album could deliver in a live setting. But André 3000’s feature on “Where’s the Catch?” was a welcome change of pace, a nod to Blake’s background in London dance music. In “Mile High,” Blake conceived something of a call-and-response, seesawing between Scott’s bare bars and his own lush, bass-heavy vocals. Guitarist and producer Rob McAndrews and drummer Ben Assiter, both of whom have known Blake since childhood and have played with him for years, weighted the evening. Assiter is a pleasure to watch and a polyglot of drum riffs, moving seamlessly from the kick drums in “Mile High” to kicky hi-hats in “Timeless.” McAndrews’ production, guitar and cello (yes, cello) kept the performance lifted and lyrical, especially so on Assume tracks. The sold-out crowd was a testament to Blake’s music but to the musician, too. You could hear a pin drop during his vocal solos and the appropriate shouts and whoops when the bass dropped. Blake was a gracious performer, thanking the audience and happy to be in New York City (who isn’t?). We’d love to see him back soon. —Rachel Brody | @RachelCBrody
Photos courtesy of Dana (distortion) Yavin | distortionpix.com
