James Blake returns with Trying Times, his seventh album and first independent release. The acclaimed producer-singer strikes a careful balance between familiar melancholy and new sonic directions. After the abstract electronics of his last project, Blake embraces a more stripped-back, song-centered approach here, infusing it with classic R&B warmth and introspective songwriting. True to its title, the album reflects on present-day uncertainty and personal resolve with a lighter touch and an undercurrent of hope.
The production across Trying Times is eclectic yet cohesive. The opener “Walk Out Music” lunges forward with skittering beats and an urgent refrain (“You’re not good to anyone dead”) that sets a tone of determined resilience. Blake seamlessly blends minimal electronics with soulful flourishes — at points sampling old-school soul vocals and even a UK grime beat to surprising effect. Each stylistic twist feels purposeful. The title track “Trying Times” swells into a shimmering, spacey ballad that anchors the record; later, “Rest of Your Life” jolts the atmosphere with a jubilant house groove and euphoric vocal runs. These adventurous arrangements keep things unpredictable without sacrificing emotional coherence.
Guest collaborators are used sparingly but meaningfully: British rapper Dave drops an incisive verse on the simmering “Doesn’t Just Happen,” and singer Monica Martin lends gentle harmonies to a ballad, adding texture to Blake’s solitary musings. Lyrically, Blake grapples with division and doubt in the modern world, though his commentary remains earnest if a bit broad. Where his social reflections occasionally lack subtlety, his confessional love songs hit home with poignant sincerity. In all, Trying Times is an engaging, well-rounded addition to Blake’s catalog — not flawless, but full of inventive production, emotive performances, and a sense of artistic renewal.
