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New . Music :: James Blake Puts The Colour In Anything.

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It was the perfect time for the shadowy figure known as James Blake to emerge from the London mist or whatever part of Narnia woods he lives in and unleash a complete masterpiece. I had no expectations, like going to a movie with your friends, that they are all extra hyped about but you didn’t even see the trailer but you know the director is good so you don’t doubt it and that movie ended up being “City of God”. Fresh off of his collaboration’s (“Forward” and “Pray You Catch Me”) on the iconic and stellar Beyoncé Lemonade album (which he wisely pushed his album back to make proper room for), this is a very surreal time for the 27 year old walking talking myth. This album comes crashing onto the shores of your ears in a way that is refreshing and scary at the same time. He himself is a genre, and on this record he pushes that genre even further. This is his most accessible sound yet, not that James hasn’t been creating music that we could all connect with but it’s been so abstract at times we’ve have no idea what the songs are about which causes most of his earlier work to fly over the heads of many. He feels ready to show you himself on this album. The listenability and songwriting are now in the forefront of the piece, so much so they are on the same level as his unpredictable and brilliant production. What we are witnessing is a more extroverted introvert. What has he been holding back? A full album of “Retrograde”. Creating the most interesting turned down turn up music, James himself told The Guardian “The xx set the precedent and I set the further precedent, and the music world has bent to that sound,” he says. “It’s like the opposite of punk, isn’t it? I got them all to shut up. I’ve subdued a generation. That will be my legacy.”

 

“Radio Silence” starts us with James in high form showing us what we wished he heard from Champagne Papi on “Views” as far as the level of creativity that’s possible while writing about a love unrequited. Sampling Bill Withers  “Hope She’ll Be Happier” the sound is lavish and booming, I want to see this song live I don’t care about how much tickets are le go !

“Timeless” was supposed to feature Kanye West and high key I’m kinda glad he isn’t on here rapping about rich guy problems or getting bleach on his shirt (I think James heard Pablo and was like naaaah I’m gucci, imagine James lake saying “I’m Gucci” real quick). “Timeless” is a very hard edged almost “Kick In The Door” like banger that will give your car speakers a nice exercise. The arrangement intensifies much like the latter half of “Voyager” from the OVERGROWN album but something about this feels even more next level to keep up with.

The most mind blowing plead for full presence from a lover comes in the form “Put that Away And Talk To Me” asking her to put away thee technology, mask, the distractions, the whatever we all hide behind to actually speak. Drawing you with the silence, it feels like a metaphor for more. These lines really stood out on their tippy toes at me :

“You’re not the only one with a fantasy”  

“Do you like it when your hero’s live? Where is your beautiful life?”

A string driven deep house influence jam “I Hope My Life” I hope I’m right when I’m speaking my mind, I hope my life is no sign of the times” I’m not sure if this is a Prince reference but that’s how I am taking it. This song takes me places and I can’t wait to spin this live.

“Willing Heart” hits a place reserved for The Beatles level of beautiful songwriting. Co-Written by Frank Ocean this is when I knew I was listening to an album that was something I had never felt before. There is a melancholy interesting here, that should not be mistaken for sadness, there is such an art to sampling yourself James displayed at it’s highest potential here. Please enjoy this at your leisure.

 

 

This brings us to one of the most emotionally jarring moments on the album on “Choose Me” James sings with a desperation we have never heard. I love EVERYTHING about this song. Jeff Buckley levels of amazing (I don’t say that lightly). This is so emotionally charged I’m writing this write up on the brink of tears. You are gonna want to replay this song a couple times.He could never make another song ever after this, I would be satisfied. This song contains everything we love about James Blake. This song reminds us we love James Blake. This is the song you show your friends if they have no idea who James Blake is.

 

 

“I know there are places that I can’t go with you
You say that all these flowers bloom
I don’t wanna run a ring past you
I’d rather you chose me every day
I’d rather you choose me
I looked into myself like a case with you
Have I?
You don’t weigh me down like you think you do
I’m not looking to hold you down
I’d rather you chose me every day
I’d rather you choose me”

 

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I mean wow, yea sorry *wipes tears from face and continues listening*, the next song “I Need A Forest Fire” featuring Bon Ivar starts with the first time you ever hear James Blake with a rap like adlib “WHEW” like he knows what he’s done, he knows what he has created. This song needs a fire department no lie.

The title track “The Color In Everything” feels like a pep talk between artist and uninspired artist, or self and uninspired self, optimist and glass half empties. Through the darkness he is able to find the color in anything and he can’t help you if you can’t. Low key a very beautiful sorry but not sorry. The flood of sounds that cover you in “Two Men Down” has James using an untouchable falsetto and instruments and distortion we have never heard him interact with, I have no idea where he was gonna take us with the strange guitar licks in the beginning, but again we land in very pleasant garden of sounds somewhere in Gallifrey. “Modern Soul” feels very much like it was created in the OVERGROWN era of things, it feels familiar but in a way we welcome. The ballad with it’s wobbly notes and textured drums panned all over the spectrum coupled with said sonnets you can only fall in love with. This song continues to build and draws you closer to this place and allows you to breathe again.

 

“Always” feels Stevie influenced, and infused with optimism over cinematic well traveled production, he does what James does and unpredictably chops up his already amazing vocals in this jarring way you understand has purpose to it. This song is a feeling.

 

Ending the album on a more subdued note with less of a song and more of a mantra “I Met You In A Maze” is meditative yet vulnerable and more of a thank you note than a love song. 

 

“All those songs that came before you
They were once awaiting
Music can’t be everything
Music can’t be everything
That’s why I see you clear as air
And it’s not from my creating
Music can’t be everything
All those songs that came before
All those songs that came before you
They were once awaiting
Music can’t be everything”

Strong and mature words said by a man consumed by his music as much as he is the one he loves. He’s realised he needs both to be whole.

He has created an album I would like to live in. There is so much to be learned, applied, tried and inspired by and felt on this record. I grew tired of none of the songs here. There were no moments of disappointment or underwhelming inauthenticity. For this I am thankful. This is an example of what music can actually do. This album is a testament, like the new testament, the 2nd coming of James and ends with a revelation that real music with real emotions is still being made, you just gotta wait for it. 

10/10 .

 

 

-∂eƒ

Hundred . Waters . Deep .

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defxnicole.   Everyone should have a musical pen pal. A person you can send music back and forth with daily. It will enhance your life on so many levels. Don’t ask the person to be your musical pen pal. Just start sending them music and if they send some back to you, it was meant to be. Hundred Waters was a gift i unwrapped in my inbox one interesting morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-8Oa2t4Ro “Murmurs” was the first item of light that caught my ear. It was the most beautiful song my ears had heard in the past 366 days. I almost cried, honestly. Drawn in by the hypnotizing invitational chant of “I wish you ,  I wish you , I wish you  , I wish you , I wish you , I wish you, could see what I seeeeee”.  And in that moment I truly did. The coloring of the video even matched the song. Notice that everyone’s eyes (except the lead singer Nicole)  were closed in the video. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m sure there is something interesting there. There was a soft epicness to it. You know a song writer is brilliant when they can say “yesterday was your birthday , happy birthday..” and it sounds amazing. I was entranced by this song for days. In the moment I snapped out of it I needed to know more about this band. So here we go down the rabbit hole.   I came to find out that their newest record “The Moon Rang Like A Bell” was released on sacred ground out in Arizona in an experimental town inside of a molten bronze bell casting community by the name of Arcosanti. Inside this arch took place the amazing album release captured below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmvkjPrXvwI   I came to find out this young band originally was formed in 2011 in Florida by members Paul Giese – electronics, guitars, Nicole Miglis vocals, keys, flute,   Zach Tetreault – drums, vocals, and Trayer Tryon – electronics, guitars.   Hundred Waters Drawing inspiration for their name from Austrian painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser and his approach to letting the viewer/listener have their own interpretation and experience with the art. Now in Los Angeles, one of the wildest pieces of data I ended up stumbling upon about the band was that they are signed by Skrillex’s OWSLA  Label. Taste levels aren’t limited these days. We are all cross genre blends. If you are reading this you are a genre!     In an interesting  coincidence (btw I don’t believe in random coincidences anymore, I believe in purposed purpose). I crossed paths with Nicole in DTLA at a very random Levi’s event where we discussed monsters, boiler rooms, art, her face, why there weren’t any free jeans at the event, and how good Thundercat smelled that night. I say that to say she is as interesting as she seems. Okay, back to the music, I watched a brilliant story unfold in a forest… Wanna see? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFpvMiPAarI “Boreal”  is a song with many movements, much like water , it openly twinkles around the mind if you let it. The visuals do exactly what all great art should do. Beautifully intrigue and almost confuse you.   The next piece of light I want to share with you is the opening song on the “The Moon Rang Like A Bell” album. These angelic harmonies present in this prayer of a song called “Show Me Love” feel special and innocent. https://soundcloud.com/hundredwaters/01-show-me-love Layered with levels on levels on levels of meaning in every song, replay value is there.  I see why they called themselves Hundred Waters. As I was looking for more pictures of the band I came across a love letter handwritten by Nicole about heaven of all places: hundred-waters-note     There is something very deep, honest and innocent about their music. No matter where you are in the world you should try and catch them live touring with Interpol. ( Dates are below )   hundredwaters   If you can’t catch them live watch this live performance of the song “Animal” in San Francisco. It’s pretty amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5nQV5KFanI Thanks for reading and listening.   p e a c e _.         -∂eƒ

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Alex . Thee . Voice . Isley .

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Every once in a while you meet a voice. A voice you never thought existed. Perfect as an angels whisper, and as sweet as pure agave in a porcelain tea cup never sipped from. Alex Isley is one of the purest voices that will ever touch you ears. Blessed with synesthesia (aka color hearing  that allows her to see a color according to the musical note) this classically trained Jazz singer and graduate of UCLA’s music program paints beautiful portraits for ears like no other vocalist I have known. If her last name looks familiar then duh she’s an actually Isley as in Isley Brothers (her father is legendary guitarist Ernie Isley). With royal blood running through her veins she has a legendary voice blessed with perfect pitch tucked behind her very coy and humble aura.

 

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I believe it was January 6th 2014 when I first heard her cover/remix of James Blake’s two songs “Retrograde” (which miiight be the best song of 2013) and “Wilhelm Scream” (which is actually a cover James Blake covered of a song called “Where To Turn” by his father, James Litherland).
There are few times in your life when you hear a cover that could actually be better than thee original.
Alex actually  replayed and re arranged both songs from scratch and makes you feel every inch and lyric within both songs. “Retro / Wilhelm” actually allows you to hear how powerful the lyrics are in the original song.
Retro / Wilhelm

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/127478105″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Her cover is easily the most beautiful piece of a wav form I have heard all year (yes, it is only February, but still this is that good!). Please do share it if it moves you.

 

Alex’s most recent project  “Dreams In Analog” is all completely self written and produced and is available NOW. “For The Stars” is my favorite gem from the project. This song puts you in such a dream like place with just a touch of  euphoric to bounce it.

For The Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ_w6ch5Pr4

 

When I listen to music I try to close my eyes and have my own iTunes visualizer going on, when I hear an Alex Isley Isley song I visualize that it is the perfect soundtrack to human levitation. If you’ve still got the chills please do let you ears be covered in another cover of the late Amy Winehouse’s extra soulful “HeCanOnlyHoldHer”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/23295154″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

 

Alex is not without collaborations as well on her resume. I’m thankful to say she has also blessed my art with her vocals on a duet  from my most recent project “//Neon . Summer .//”

“∂eƒ sound – Fine . Line (S) feat. Alex Isley” 

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/110528297″ params=”color=f84ca4&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The harmonies carry the track to a new realm and allow a smile to dance across your face effortlessly. Whenever I hear her voice on a song it makes me think of the Radiohead song “Everything In It’s Right Place.” because it really is!

 

Channeling the pure bliss of reciprocation her song  “About Him”  is an amazing dedication that begins with her sampling a pitched up version of herself. Every line feels so honest like a love letter you wrote back in the day and asked her to “do you like me?” and she could circle yes, no, or maybe (I never put the option of maybe, I needed to know the real off top even as a 8 year old.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJNLCWZvXS4

She is a breath of the sweetest air. The brilliantly bright lyrics she lays out on “The Other Side” are something to write home, work, an ex, or even just the person who works @ Target about. She allows herself to be an instrument and play her own voice as a trumpet toward the end of this one.  

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87291001″ params=”color=00cc11&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

 

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Even if she is the daughter of a legend she is creating her own lane on her own freeway. In a world of hype,  twerking, and gimmicks she just lets her art speak volumes even if she has to whispers murals into your earlobes.

Follow her on Twitter @loveAlexIsley

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Download “Dreams in Analog” 

 

 

-∂eƒ

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Calibrating Fear

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I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to tap into the core of movement and the body. I even got so far as to get to the root of stillness. I can say that I have never been more types of sore than I have been in the past two weeks. It is as if training your body is not even really about conditioning your body to be stronger but more so conditioning your mind to be able to accept and process exorbitant amounts of pain. No I don’t mean discomfort, like when you are kind of sitting in an awkward yoga pose for a few minutes. I mean real pain like when you are leaning into a stretch that is bringing you to the bring of tears.

In G.I. Jane Master Chief John Urgayle says “Pain is your friend, your ally.” and there are a million other quotes like that you will hear in the military but this one rings like a proverb to me now. There seems to be a very clear distinction between pain tolerance and strength, and ability. I know the longer and harder I train and endure the sadistic practices I put my body through the more fortified I become in my resolve and ability. The interesting thing about fitness is that it makes these changes to the mind and body simultaneously.

I have found that wrestling with the discomfort of my experiments with yoga have made it easier for me to be patient in line at the DMV or addressing mundane administrative tasks while working.  At the highest level my pain tolerance has increased from doing things like pushing through severe cramping during a run or muscle failure when lifting, and here is where it gets interesting.The more pain I am able to endure and recover from, the less I am afraid of pain itself. It’s not that I become desensitized to the pain necessarily but I become better at managing the fear that prefaces it. This is what I have come up with so far from my month of fitness exploration:

When we approach a task  we calculate the possibility of success or failure based on an assessment of our ability and the task at hand. The further from our core ability the task is, the less lower the likely hood of a desired result. But right along with that ability assessment is the fear of failure.  The fear is based on an outcome that might be as subtle as embarrassment or as severe as death but can be categorized as unpleasant or painful. Fear is in direct opposition of desire, because both live in the imaginative mind (there and only there). Just as we can perceive all the positive possibilities that come with success we can can see all negative possibilities that come with failure. The real fear factor is how far our abilities are deteriorated as a result of an aversion to pain.

Now let’s go back up to the top.  As I am training, I am not only working to condition my muscles to do a specific task but I am making them better able to manage the strain of that task and manage the associated pain. The better I am at managing pain, the less I am averse to it because I have developed my condition to be suitable to endure the strain of the task, so even if it is not any less painful, I already know it is a pain I can tolerate.

Until now I have always viewed fear as wall to break through. Acknowledging the fear-pain and pain-strength relationships has been breakthrough for me. I now see fear not as an enemy, but for exactly what it is. A tool that helps me assess my ability. Through training, I calibrate my fear to align with my condition and pain tolerance, and reflect against my goals and desires. In short, If I am afraid, I’m not ready. There is more pain for me to endure yet, before I am strong enough to capture my desires.

Synopsis: The path to fitness is a continuos conditioning of the mind and body to exert the necessary amount of energy to execute a given task. Along the way we manage pain, and calibrate our fear to be an effective tool to estimate the outcome.