Toshio Matsuura | Evolving Young Talent, James Blake
Toshio Matsuura | From TOKYO MOON, April 14 Broadcast
James Blake: Evolving Young Talent
Sunday nights, a leisurely flow of time with exquisite music—this is the ultimate pleasure for adults. Enhancing such moments further is DJ Toshio Matsuura's radio program, "TOKYO MOON."──He broadcasts a selection of wonderful music from around the world, along with topics to stimulate intellectual curiosity for adults, every Sunday from 23:30 on Inter FM 76.1MHz. This time, we focus on James Blake, who recently released his second album, "Overgrown."
Text by MATSUURA Toshio
James Blake Falls in Love!
James Blake, a young British singer-songwriter, made his debut in 2009 while still a university student. Influenced by avant-garde electronic dance music artists like Mount Kimbie and Burial, he came to be known by the media as post-dubstep, skillfully fusing minimalism with profound bass, unconventional beats, and processed vocals. He created a new sound and made his name known in the underground scene.
He then succeeded in reinterpreting Feist's "Limit To Your Love," preserving the original's ethereal beauty while rebuilding it with resonant piano melodies and earth-shattering low frequencies. He instantly became a "person of the moment," known even in pop circles worldwide.
His first album, "James Blake," released two years ago, showcased an even more refined sensibility. He sang of his inner solitude and sorrow within a minimalist soundscape, fully blossoming as a singer-songwriter. Around that time, he made his first visit to Japan as an artist and caused a sensation with his aggressive live performance, which seemed to blow away the album's quietude.
Since then, he has continued to perform live for audiences around the world, evolving his expressive methods. Last summer, at the Fuji Rock Festival, he completely captivated everyone present with his overwhelming stage presence.
Amidst this, he experienced his first romantic relationship in his private life, likely growing as a person through these interactions. On his recently releasedsecond album, "Overgrown", the vocal effects are more subdued compared to his previous work, and he sings more about love in his lyrics, making it feel as though his "body temperature" has risen.
Yet, his experimentation continues; collaborations with the avant-garde musician Brian Eno on "Digital Lion" and the dance-floor-oriented "Voyeur" offered listeners new impressions.
James Blake "Overgrown"
His body infused with the blues and gospel of Robert Johnson and Sam Cooke he heard in childhood, the folk-rock of Crosby, Stills & Nash and Joni Mitchell, and the soul of Stevie Wonder, he continues to break new ground through repeated experimentation. We cannot take our eyes off him.
What "surprises" will he reveal in his June performances? We eagerly anticipate them.
Maylee Todd "Escapology"
Karen Mok
"Somewhere I Belong"
Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa
"Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa"
Joyce Moreno "Tudo"
Shokazulu "Shokazulu"
Rocketnumbernine & Four Tet
"Roseland / Metropolice"
Radio Slave "Tantakatan Remixes"
V.A.
"Who's That Man Tribute to Conny Plank" *Includes Eurythmics
REVIEW | TRACK LIST
Click on the songs marked with ★ to listen or purchase. Please ensure you have "iTunes" installed beforehand to enjoy.
01.Maylee Todd / Wash The Seeds (P-Vine)★
02.Karen Mok / The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships (Universal)★
03. Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa / Chester-le-Street (Zounds)
04.Joyce Moreno / Quero Ouvir Joao (Far Out)★
05. Shokazulu / Sammy Sebastian -Dego's KJM Version (2000 Balck / BBQ)
06.James Blake / Retrograde (Universal)★
07.James Blake / Digital Lion (Universal)★
08. Rocketnumbernine & Four Tet / Roseland (Text)
09. Radio Slave / Tantakatan -Prins Thomas Diskomiks (Rekids)
10. Eurythmics / Take Me To Your Heart -Popnoname Remix (Groenland)
11. Alex Barck / Atmosphere (Sonar Kollektiv)
12. Tosca / Stuttgart - Marlow & Trueby latest mix (g-stone)
13. Ladi6 / Ikarus (Eskapaden)
14. Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins / Popstopper (SomeOthaShip Connect)
15.Cookin' on 3 Burners / This Girl (Freestyle)★
16.Lady / If You Wanna Be My Man (Truth & Soul)★
17.Patricia Marx / Espelhos D'Água (P-Vine)★
Alex Barck &
Jonatan Bäckelie "Don't Hold Back"
Ladi6 "Ikarus"
Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins
"Popstopper"
Cookin' on 3 Burners
"This Girl"
Lady "Lady"
Patricia Marx "Trinta"
"TOKYO MOON on iTunes" This Week
You can purchase selected songs from those introduced so far here. Experience the joy of instantly obtaining songs that catch your ear. This week, we feature two songs by James Blake released on independent labels, and a song by Stevie Wonder that he says greatly influenced his life.
Please ensure you have "iTunes" installed beforehand to enjoy.
James Blake / I'll Stay
James Blake / Pan
Stevie Wonder / You & IAll2011.11.6 ON AIR
Toshio Matsuura "TOKYO MOON"
Every Sunday 23:30-24:30 ON AIR
Inter FM 76.1MHz
Send your messages for "TOKYO MOON" here
moon@interfm.jp
Inter FM 76.1MHz
www.interfm.co.jp