WORDS AND IMAGES BY BILLY SEAGRAVE
‘James Blake Has A Unique Way Of Hooking His Audience In’
On Sunday night I headed quite excitedly to Manchester’s Apollo theatre, to finally touch base with the Grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist James Blake who returns to showcase his latest Album ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’.
For those that are unaware of James Blake, he is already over a decade into his career, bringing his highly acclaimed, latest album, ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’. to a sold-out Manchester Apollo.
Tonight’s support is provided by Khushi, aka Kalim Patel. Drawing extensively from latest offering ‘Strange Seasons’, by his own admission a record that has taken 10 years to complete. “I’m a combination of a perfectionist and a snail,” he jokes, citing a real fear of failure that held him back. “It’s that process of having an idea in your head, and when it’s just in your head, it has limitless potential; it could be anything.”
Taking to the stage and setting up front and centre of the stage, the lighting is dim and adds to the atmosphere. Having worked with tonight’s host on his critically acclaimed ‘Assume Form’, which gained a Grammy nomination. ‘From Me’, ‘In love With It All’ along with ‘Like A City’ are stand out tracks, and judging by the reception received at the end of the set the crowd where certainly in the mood for tonight’s main act.
The stage is set with three raised platforms, Drums in the middle, James Blake to the right and more keyboards and guitars to the left. It looks like a complete black backdrop with only very dim overhead lighting to provide a melancholic and moody atmosphere.
The crowd warmly acknowledge the trio to the stage. The atmospheric ‘Life Round Here’, opens the show. Instantly setting the ambience that would transverse through the show. James Blake has a unique way of hooking his audience in, it involves engaging with the crowd and taking them off on a journey that transcends the venue. If you are aware to his music, you will know that to get the full effect of the beauty of the orchestrated layers built within the tracks, headphones make sure you have the full experience of his work.
The set is awash with atmospheric lighting that completely matches the set list. ‘Limit To Your Love’, ‘Both Sides Of A Smile’ along with the standout track of the evening for me ‘Say What You Will’. James Blakes vocal prowess shouldn’t be underestimated, its as pure and as complex as his volume of work.
Having worked with some of the biggest artists in the world Beyonce, Drake, and Jay-Z the standout performers calling on his services. As the evening comes to an end the crowd have had a taste of euphoria and a depth of music that not only fills the soul. I feel that this James Blakes music works on so many levels and in so many settings, each, and every one of us felt that this performance was personally for us.
SET LIST
1/ FAMOUS LAST WORDS
2/ LIFE ROUND HERE
3/ BEFORE
4/ LIMIT TO YOUR LOVE
5/ SAY WHAT YOU WILL
6/ THE DEATH OF LOVE
7/ BOTH SIDES OF A SMILE
8/ CMYK
9/ I WANT YOU TO KNOW
10/ VOYEUR
11/ RETROGRADE
12/ DEPEND ON YOU
13/ A CASE OF YOU
14/ NEVER DREAMED YOU’D LEAVE IN THE SUMMER
15/ FEEL AWAY ENCORE
16/ THE WILHELM SCREAM
17/ GODSPEED
FOLLOW JAMES BLAKE
FOLLOW KHUSHI
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
