James Blake’s fifth studio album, “Friends That Break Your Heart,” released on Oct. 8, is an eloquent articulation of pain amid lost friendships. This 12-track album — with an added bonus track included on the deluxe edition — features a luminous collection of ballads, fully immersing listeners through a vividly emotional experience that tells a story of the agonizing effects of having friends.
Born James Blake Litherland, the English singer is an equally brilliant songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. While his 2009 debut single “Air & Lack Thereof” as well as his first three EPs, 2010’s “The Bells Sketch,” “CMYK” and “Klavierwerke,” contemporized Blake into London’s underground electronic scene, it was his self-titled debut album released in 2011 that gave him much-needed recognition as a singer-songwriter. Before its release, the world knew Blake strictly for his producing and dubstep arrangements. The fact that he could sing remained a mystery.
The album “James Blake” received critical praise for its unique approach at combining dubstep, soul and electro-R&B. It could even be categorized as a Bon Iver-esque type of dubstep, fully encompassing how experimentally sound it is. 10 years later, “Friends That Break Your Heart” is less trial and error, flaunting Blake’s mastery in storytelling with its use of chilling vocals, vulnerable lyrics and the ever-expected electronic pattern interruptions.
In an interview included in the album’s description on Apple Music, Blake dives into a true gritty interpretation of the record.
“Whether it’s a sad song or an uplifting song, each emotion I’ve gone for is a more raw version of that thing on at least the last two records,” Blake said.
The first track, “Famous Last Words,” is an electronic-laced ballad that exemplifies the album’s theme of agony following the conclusion of being in a toxic relationship. In the second verse Blake sings, “And I can’t believe I’m still makin’ excuses for your crimes / I’ve truly lost it, I’ve truly lost it this time,” emphasizing his ignorance in justifying the actions of the person he loved and his denial in believing they are capable of what they have done. “Famous Last Words” is a brilliant and welcoming introduction to the rest of the album, reeling listeners in with Blake’s pulsing mellotron and orchestral beauty.
The album also features vocals from other talented artists such as SZA, JID, SwaVay and Monica Martin. The bonus album also includes the added track “Funeral” featuring rapper slowthai, fellow United Kingdom native. “Coming Back” with SZA is a standout track generating a paradox on the theme of veering away from fading relationships. Opening with joyful piano chords, Blake ethereally warbles his undying loyalty for a partner whom he shouldn’t express want towards and the discomfort with moving on from people he still deeply loves. Yet unlike other songs on the album, “Coming Back” includes Blake’s destructive relationship traits. In verse two he sings, “Yes I love you and it’s real / I went in too soon for the kill” followed shortly by “I couldn’t let you reject me / I couldn’t let you forget me,” signifying his hurtful and obsessive nature.
With the ever-growing success of the album, there is much controversy surrounding Blake’s partner, actress and music connoisseur Jameela Jamil. In an Instagram post, Jamil spoke out on the fact that Blake had to encourage her to allow him to include her producing credit on the album in spite of those who criticize her talent and knowledge. The production side of the album features Take a Daytrip, Frank Dukes and Metro Boomin in addition to Jamil. “The Good Place” star defended her producing credit, revealing the fact she studied music for six years and was a DJ for eight after fans doubted her skills. Blake even posted a screenshot on Instagram of Jamil’s tweet, expressing his anger towards those who place a double standard when it comes to giving proper credit to talented women.
“A lot of mostly women insisting I couldn’t possibly have actually worked on my boyfriend’s music, and that he must have just credited me to be nice … I was a DJ for 8 years, and studied music for 6 years before that. You are part of the problem of why women don’t pursue producing,” Jamil posted to Twitter.
“Friends That Break Your Heart” is perhaps the most perceptive of Blake’s albums — further epitomizing the emotional familiarity of his ballads, with vast electronic disruptions followed by angelic, delicate vocal harmonies that fully seek to uncover new ways to heal. There’s a more idiosyncratic approach, yet conformality surrounding the singer’s vulnerability that lies equally within the libretto and melody.
McKenzie Boney is an Entertainment Staff Writer. She can be reached at mboney@uci.edu.
