Klavierwerke (EP)

Last updated

Klavierwerke
Klavierwerke (Front Cover).png
EP by
Released27 September 2010
Recorded2010
Genre
Length16:41
Label R&S
Producer James Blake
James Blake chronology
CMYK
(2010)
Klavierwerke
(2010)
James Blake
(2011)

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]

Contents

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
Pitchfork 8.1/10 [3]
Resident Advisor 4.0/5 [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 are 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

Related Research Articles

<i>The Sophtware Slump</i> 2000 studio album by Grandaddy

The Sophtware Slump is the second studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy. It was released in May 2000 by record label V2. It is seen by some as a concept album about problems concerning modern technology in society. The album was released to critical acclaim.

<i>Sound of Silver</i> 2007 studio album by LCD Soundsystem

Sound of Silver is the second studio album by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. The album was released jointly through DFA and Capitol Records in the United States and EMI elsewhere, first on March 12, 2007, in the United Kingdom. Sound of Silver was produced by the DFA and recorded during 2006 at Long View Farm in North Brookfield, Massachusetts and DFA Studios in New York, New York. Upon release, Sound of Silver received acclaim from music critics, and it was later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. The group's later released an EP, entitled A Bunch of Stuff, was composed entirely of songs from this album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Twilight Sad</span> Scottish post-punk/indie rock band

The Twilight Sad are a Scottish post-punk/indie rock band, comprising James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane (guitar), Johnny Docherty (bass), Brendan Smith (keyboards) and Grant Hutchison (drums). They have released five studio albums, as well as several EPs, live recordings and singles. Their 2007 debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, drew widespread acclaim from critics, who noted Graham's thick Scottish accent and MacFarlane's dense sonic walls of shoegazing guitar and wheezing accordion. The Twilight Sad's notoriously loud live performances have been described as "completely ear-splitting", and the band toured for the album across Europe and the United States throughout 2007 and 2008. Sessions inspired by stripped-down and reworked live performances yielded the 2008 mini-album, Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did.

<i>Dont Stop</i> (Annie album) 2009 studio album by Annie

Don't Stop is the second studio album by Norwegian singer Annie. Originally intended for a 2008 release on UK-based label Island Records, the planned release date was pushed back. Annie left Island for Norwegian independent label Smalltown Supersound, which released a revised version of the album in October 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aphex Twin</span> British electronic musician (born 1971)

Richard David James, best known as Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born British musician, composer and DJ. He is known for his idiosyncratic work in electronic styles such as techno, ambient, and jungle. Journalists from publications including Mixmag, The New York Times, NME, Fact,Clash and The Guardian have called James one of the most influential and important artists in contemporary electronic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Kimbie</span> English electronic music duo

Mount Kimbie is an English electronic music duo consisting of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos. Formed in 2008, the duo expanded on the musical template of the UK dubstep scene, releasing early EPs Maybes and Sketch on Glass to critical praise the following year. Their debut album Crooks & Lovers in 2010 received further acclaim and was listed as one of the defining albums of the decade by DJ Mag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Blake (musician)</span> British musician (born 1988)

James Blake Litherland is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first received recognition for a series of 2010 EPs including CMYK and Klavierwerke, and he released his self-titled debut album in 2011 to critical praise. His second album Overgrown was released in 2013, bringing him to international attention, and later was awarded the Mercury Prize. He released his third album The Colour in Anything in 2016, his fourth Assume Form in 2019, his fifth Friends That Break Your Heart in 2021, and his sixth Playing Robots Into Heaven in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baths (musician)</span> American electronic musician (born 1989)

Will Wiesenfeld, better known by his stage name Baths, is an American electronic musician. He was born in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles and was raised in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. He currently resides in Culver City, Los Angeles, California. Southern California Public Radio described him as "LA's big new electronica musician" in 2010. Previously signed with Anticon, he now releases music through his own label Basement's Basement.

Trim is an English grime MC from East London and a former member of Roll Deep. Trim has an eclectic subject matter, beat selection and delivery.

<i>James Blake</i> (album) 2011 studio album by James Blake

James Blake is the debut studio album by English musician James Blake. It was released in both the United Kingdom and the United States on his own label, ATLAS, supported by A&M Records, on 4 February 2011. The release was supported with the release of its first single, "Limit to Your Love", on 28 November 2010.

<i>Ravedeath, 1972</i> 2011 studio album by Tim Hecker

Ravedeath, 1972 is the sixth studio album by Canadian electronic music musician Tim Hecker, released on February 14, 2011, by Kranky. The album was recorded primarily in Frikirkjan Church, Reykjavík, by Ben Frost. It makes prominent use of pipe organ, and was described by Hecker as "a hybrid of a studio and a live record." It received universal acclaim from critics, with many reviewers acknowledging the album as Hecker's finest.

<i>CMYK</i> (EP) 2010 EP by James Blake

CMYK is the second solo extended play by London-based indie producer James Blake. It was released in both the United Kingdom and the United States on R&S Records on 28 May 2010. It samples many tracks, mostly from 1990s R&B. The EP received positive reviews from critics.

<i>The Bells Sketch</i> 2010 EP by James Blake

The Bells Sketch is the debut EP of London-based producer James Blake. It was released on 8 March 2010 by Hessle Audio. The EP received very positive reviews from music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Jane Coles</span> British musician

Maya Jane Coles is a music producer, audio engineer and DJ based in the United Kingdom, born in London of British and Japanese descent. Under her real name, she mostly composes and plays techno music, while her alias Nocturnal Sunshine creates darker, more bass-driven productions with a heavy hip-hop and dub influence. She was previously part of an electronic dub duo called She Is Danger with Lena Cullen.

Untold a.k.a. Jack Dunning, is an electronic producer from London. He released his first solo record on Hessle Audio in 2008 and has since released on R&S Records, Soul Jazz, Clone Records and more. He released his debut album 'Black Light Spiral' on his own label, Hemlock Recordings in February 2014.

<i>Overgrown</i> 2013 studio album by James Blake

Overgrown is the second studio album by English electronic musician James Blake. It was released on 5 April 2013 by Blake's Atlas Records, along with A&M Records and Polydor Records. The album features guest appearances from electronic music producer Brian Eno and Wu-Tang Clan member RZA. Overgrown debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the US Dance/Electronic chart. It was supported by lead single "Retrograde".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Love Is Made Of</span> 2013 single by Katy B

"What Love Is Made Of" is a song recorded by British recording artist Katy B. Written by Katy alongside Goldon Warren, who also produced it under the name Geeneus, the track was released as a standalone single via digital retailers on 8 July 2013 by Rinse and Columbia Records. It was composed after Katy had been listening to dance genres. The theme conveyed in the lyrics is love while musically, the song has been described as a "trance-y" and "rave-y" dance song with its production containing synthesizers and piano. Katy later decided to not include it in Little Red (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex (The 1975 song)</span> 2013 single by the 1975

"Sex" is a song by English band the 1975 from their second extended play (EP) of the same name (2012) and eponymous debut studio album (2013). The song was written by band members George Daniel, Matty Healy, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald. The band co-produced the EP version of the song with Michael and Robert Coles, while Mike Crossey provided additional production. The album version, produced by Crossey and the band, was released as the lead single on 23 August 2013 by Dirty Hit, Polydor Records and Vagrant Records. Written at the age of 19, Healy said the song represents a love letter to prudish teenage girls.

<i>200 Press</i> 2014 EP by James Blake

200 Press is the sixth solo EP by English musician James Blake. Blake played all the instruments and produced the record. It was released on 1-800-Dinosaur on 8 December 2014. The name of the album are a reference to the fact that only 200 copies of the vinyl edition would be pressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead</span> 2018 single by James Blake

"If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead" is a song and non-album single by English electronic music producer and singer-songwriter James Blake. It was written by Blake and produced alongside Dominic Maker of electronic music duo Mount Kimbie. A music video directed by Alexander Brown was released on 25 January 2018 having premiered at his BBC Radio 1 residency and was released as a single the next day.

References

  1. "Klavierwerke 'R&S continue their exceptional seam of golden forward-thinking UK bass music...'". The Ransome Note. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "James Blake James Blake - Album Review". Slant Magazine . 15 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colly, Joe (30 September 2010). "James Blake: Klavierwerke EP". Pitchfork . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  4. Powell, Mike (24 May 2010). "James Blake: CMYK EP". Pitchfork . Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Kuo, Ryan (4 October 2010). "James Blake – Klavierwerke EP". Resident Advisor . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Diver, Mike (11 October 2010). "Review of James Blake – Klavierwerke". BBC . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  7. Powell, Mike (16 December 2010). "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2010". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.