Mercury Music Prize and GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Blake presents his highly anticipated new album, ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’.
James Blake has carefully curated the record’s eleven tracks, threading together an arresting vision steeped in cinematic sonic architecture and elevated by emotionally charged vocals and eloquent songcraft. For as much as each individual cut captivates in its own right, the album traces a journey from Asking To Breakthrough the epic conclusion on the title track Playing Robots Into Heaven. Throughout the album, he artfully integrates alternative, electronic, indie, and experimental vibes like only he can.
‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ was heralded with recent single Loading. Highlighting the intricacies and nuances of James’ signature style, it represents yet another artistic leap forward with its immersive production and irresistible refrain.
Rolling Stone dubbed it “pulsating,” and HYPEBEAST noted, “Blake also shows off his vocals on ‘Loading’, tapping into his impressive falsetto that meshes seamlessly with the song’s melancholic melody.” DIY praised how it “showcases immersive production and glitchy beats alongside James’ rich vocal tones.” Complex summed it up best, “James Blake season is upon us.”
Blake initially set the stage for ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ with the single Big Hammer(which samples The Ragga Twins), and the accompanying music video directed by Oscar Hudson (Radiohead, Bonobo).
‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ follows the critically acclaimed ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’- James’ highest charting album in the UK to date, and will see James once again return to the electronic roots of his Hessle, Hemlock and R&S records days. It will also nod to his latest creation, the CMYK event series with Ronda INTL which kicked off in LA last March. All the CMYK events over the past year have sold out within minutes and featured appearances from special guests including Steve Lacy, Channel Tres, HAii and more. Arriving in the UK in July, the London CMYK event featured DJ Sets from, Fauzia, Luxe, Airhead and Mr Assister with surprise appearances from The Ragga Twins and Erick The Architect, while James was joined by Lil Yachty in the DJ booth. To mark the release of ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’, James will be embarking on a headline international tour, with dates in the UK, Europe and North America.
Kicking off at the Fabrique in Milan on September 18th it will see James travel to his home town in London for an Alexandra Palace show on September 28th, before wrapping up in Los Angeles on October 20th. See below for full list of dates.