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8.0
135089
8.0 |
musicOMH
His sixth album is at times intoxicating, with the rare ability to move the feet of a large crowd and the heart of a single bedroom listener simultaneously
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8.0
135090
8.0 |
DIY
At once nostalgic and forward-thinking, and firmly back behind the decks
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8.0
135091
8.0 |
NME
The London-born artist's sixth album adds a new touch of colour to the atmospheric soundscapes he made his name on
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8.0
135092
8.0 |
The Independent
An emotional twist awaits listeners of the electronic soul star’s latest offering
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8.0
135093
8.0 |
The Skinny
The aptly-titled Playing Robots Into Heaven sees James Blake's sound design grip the firmament with hymnal vocals and glitchy configurations uniting android and angel
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8.0
135099
8.0 |
Spectrum Culture
On first listen, James Blake’s return to club music feels like both a detour and a hark back to an old sound. It’s neither of those things
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8.0
135101
8.0 |
The Arts Desk
“Tell Me” gives a glimpse of what James Blake’s music could have sounded like if he deconstructed euro-trance instead of dubstep
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8.0
135254
8.0 |
Albumism
In returning to his clubby roots, he has somehow fashioned the most cohesive, integrated showcase of his diverse modes to date
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8.0
135257
8.0 |
All Music
Recapturing the creativity that made his work stand out in the U.K. club scene around the turn of the 2010s, Playing Robots into Heaven is some of the most honest work of Blake's career
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8.0
135500
8.0 |
Under The Radar
Though Playing Robots Into Heaven recalls some of Blake’s more inscrutable, cloistered years as a musician, it also offers the clarity and confidence of someone who could do anything—but has chosen this
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7.8
135094
7.8 |
Pitchfork
The former dubstep balladeer and sometime pop super-producer returns to his electronic roots, working cut-up vocal samples into leftfield dancefloor material
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7.4
135095
7.4 |
Beats Per Minute
While it is certainly nice to hear James Blake once again tapping into a more experimental aesthetic, the album as a whole will likely not entirely satisfy fans who still hold a special place for his earliest releases
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7.0
135096
7.0 |
Clash
Blake remains undeniably talented as a singer, songwriter and producer; hopefully, ‘Playing Robots’ is a necessary stumble into more exciting territory
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7.0
135100
7.0 |
Northern Transmissions
The album’s second single “Loading” is a pulsating concoction of huge organ pads, slippery synths and an effervescent drum pattern. It’s a call back to Blake’s club roots but it’s held together by his soft, repetitive vocals
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6.0
135112
6.0 |
The Observer
The producer-songwriter returns to his club-facing roots with a densely textured album that includes a cover of Snoop Dogg’s Beautiful
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6.0
135097
6.0 |
PopMatters
Playing Robots Into Heaven is ultimately a flawed album, but at times it’s a worthwhile foray for James Blake into more beat-led, dancefloor-friendly music
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6.0
135098
6.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
With skills and interests cemented across various styles, he’s figuring out in real time exactly what he does best – providing floor fillers to club crowds or elevating his performances through complex production
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