Klavierwerke (EP)

Klavierwerke
A blurred black and white picture of a man moving his head from left to right.
EP by James Blake
Released 27 September 2010
Recorded 2010
Genre Post-dubstep, downtempo,[1] UK bass[2]
Length 16:41
Label R&S Records
Producer James Blake
James Blake chronology
CMYK
(2010)CMYK2010		 Klavierwerke
(2010)		 James Blake
(2011)James Blake2011

Klavierwerke is the third solo EP by English musician James Blake, who plays all the instruments and produced the record. It was released on R&S Records on 27 September 2010. The word "Klavierwerke" is German for "piano works", as the album is mostly built on piano.[3]

Composition

James Blake changed his style on the EP from gospel and R&B influenced dubstep on CMYK to more piano-based music.[3][4] According to Blake, the EP is "more personal" than CMYK, and its lyrics are more focused on emotion.[3] The EP has been described as "sadder and more intimate" than his previous releases,[5] and as similar to Mount Kimbie's songs.[6] The title track features some vocal static due to it being recorded on a laptop microphone. The static contrasts with the clear hand claps and bass notes.[3] The next track, "Tell Her Safe" has Blake singing over percussion, with additional light pops and clicks, and a muffled refrain.[5] The song "I Only Know (What I Know Now)" features "twisted" vocals that the BBC likened to the work of Radiohead.[6] "Don't You Think I Do", the final track, has "scattershot keys" and "cascading static" and contains some synthesizer.[5]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BBC(favourable)[6]
Pitchfork8.1/10[3]
Resident Advisor[5]

The album received positive reviews from music critics. In a favourable review, Mike Diver of the BBC wrote "every click beneath another click, every swoosh or sweep from computer keys through programmes and into production, is a fascinating facet of a whole that never once seems unduly overpopulated by elements that others might pronounce with greater emphasis."[6] Joe Colly of Pitchfork named "I Only Know (What I Know Now)" one of the "EP's finest moments" and gave the album a score of 8.1 out of 10.[3]

Resident Advisor gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and stated that "Blake's ingenious move is to seemingly dance around the truth, leaving the listener to figure things out."[5] In 2010, Pitchfork placed the EP and two other Blake EPs, The Bells Sketch and CMYK, collectively at number 8 on its list "The Top 50 Albums of 2010".[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by James Blake.

No.TitleLength
1."Klavierwerke"5:06
2."Tell Her Safe"3:15
3."I Only Know (What I Know Now)"5:17
4."Don't You Think I Do"3:05

Personnel

  • James Blake – writing, production
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Erika Wall – photograph
  • Will Bankhead – design

References

  1. ↑ "James Blake James Blake - Album Review". Slant Magazine.
  2. ↑ "Klavierwerke 'R&S continue their exceptional seam of golden forward-thinking UK bass music...'". The Ransome Note. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Joe Colly (30 September 2010). "James Blake: Klavierwerke EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Mike Powell (24 May 2010). "James Blake: CMYK EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ryan Kuo (4 October 2010). "James Blake – Klavierwerke EP (Single)". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Mike Diver (11 October 2010). "Review of James Blake – Klavierwerke". BBC. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Mike Powell (16 December 2010). "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
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