James Blake drops 'Trying Times'
James Blake released his seventh studio album, Trying Times, today — critics are calling it introspective with standout tracks like “Make Something Up” and “Just a Little Higher,” and Blake has announced a UK/European tour in support of the record with dates to follow and . If you like deep bass and fragile vocals, this is one to queue up.
Trying Times is Blake’s first fully independent studio release on his Good Boy Records imprint albionwire.com, a step he took after parting ways with Republic Records in 2024 as he moved to a DIY approach to his career. variety.com The album’s 12-track running order includes features from British rapper Dave on “Doesn’t Just Happen” and LA singer-songwriter Monica Martin on “Didn’t Come to Argue,” as listed on the official tracklist. nme.com Lead single “Death of Love” was recorded with the London Welsh Men’s Choir and filmed by creative duo Harrison and Adair for its stark office-backdrop video. nme.com Major outlets’ takes have varied: The A.V. Club graded the record C+ for what it called an uneven shift into singer‑songwriter terrain avclub.com, while DIY gave it four-to-five stars and praised the album’s cohesion. diymag.com Reviewers have singled out specific moments for their arrangements — Variety and DIY both noted a lush orchestral flourish on closing track “Just a Little Higher,” and Slant highlighted the album’s mix of warbly sub-bass and gospel-tinged balladry. variety.com Blake’s Trying Times Tour will open the UK/Europe leg at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on September 29, 2026, with stops planned in Utrecht, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Cologne, Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol, and general ticketing set to go on sale 10am local time on March 20. stereoboard.com Ahead of that autumn run, Blake’s North American summer dates begin May 27 in Atlanta and include multiple sold‑out nights at Brooklyn Paramount and a sold‑out Toronto date at History, extending the album’s live rollout across both continents. stereoboard.com
