The wait for James Blake’s third album is over.
Earlier today, James Blake debuted three new tracks from The Colour in Anything on Radio 1 with Annie Mac where he also revealed the album would be released just hours later. Now it’s here.
Talking about the album, Blake called it a “journey” and creating it was quite literally one. He began recording in England before retreating to Rick Rubin’s studio Shangri La in Malibu.
In an interview with The Guardian, Blake reveals that he pushed the album’s release date back so as not to contend with Lemonade. And he’s got another exciting collaboration in the works, having written “extensively” for Frank Ocean’s album… whenever that comes out.
The album features cover art illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake and hosts writing credits by Frank Ocean and Justin Vernon, who expressed excitement about their collaboration and the release earlier today.
So proud of my brother James Blake dropping the bigness tonight
— blobtower (@blobtower) May 5, 2016
Also, so proud of our song ForestFire came from wonderful accidents and good friendship
— blobtower (@blobtower) May 5, 2016
James , or Jim as I call him when I’m upset with him is such a powerful musician To be like Aaron Neville , AND aphex? Also, nothngelse
— blobtower (@blobtower) May 5, 2016
Kanye West was supposed to feature on the track ‘Timeless’ but according to Blake, never sent in his verses. Blake told Pitchfork the rapper’s contribution “didn’t materialize. I think a huge swath of things happened in his life, and I just stayed out of it. Eventually, the mood of the album changed, and in the end I don’t think it would have fit. But I didn’t say I was working with Kanye just so people would get interested—I really wanted him to be on it.”
Listen to The Colour in Anything or iTunes now, or Spotify below.
