I Might As Well Fall

James Blake “The Wilhelm Scream”

When it comes to James Blake, it can be easy to get distracted by his context. I think it’s a lot better to into his debut record without thinking too hard about the electronic music scene he comes from or how he relates to various strains of popular music. To get the full effect, you just have to listen and feel it, because really, that’s what matters here. It’s all raw, intense emotion, but written and arranged in a way that allows for lyrical gaps and silences that add a touch of mystery. The songs feel so intimate, but at the same time there’s this distance. On one hand it’s like being with — or just being — a person who can only let someone in so far before putting up some kind of defense. On the other, he gives you plenty of room to fill in the blanks with the details of your own emotional life.

Buy it from Amazon.