Klavierwerke (EP)

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]

Klavierwerke
EP by
James Blake
Released27 September 2010
Recorded2010
GenrePost-dubstep, UK bass,[1] downtempo[2]
Length16:41
LabelR&S
ProducerJames Blake
James Blake chronology
CMYK
(2010)		 Klavierwerke
(2010)		 James Blake
(2011)

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
Pitchfork8.1/10[3]
Resident Advisor4.0/5[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
  • James Blake – writing, production
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Erika Wall – photograph
  • Will Bankhead – design
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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.
  3. 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. Kuo, Ryan (4 October 2010). "James Blake – Klavierwerke EP". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  6. 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. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
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