Lil Yachty and James Blake: Bad Cameo review – a swing and a miss from the shapeshifting duo
The rapper and singer are both unafraid to confound fans by taking stylistic chances, but here their soulful ambition doesn’t quite gel
March 2024
James Blake’s music subscription model is a fantasy that disadvantages fans and musicians
Tom Vek
Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA to headline 2024 Glastonbury festival
September 2023
James Blake: Playing Robots Into Heaven review – back in his own atmospheric universe
The producer-songwriter returns to his club-facing roots with a densely textured album that includes a cover of Snoop Dogg’s Beautiful
October 2022
Ranked
The 100 greatest BBC music performances – ranked!
As the Beeb celebrates its centenary, we take a look at its most memorable pop moments, from the birth of grime to the first sightings of Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, plus TOTP goes Madchester and countless classic Peel sessions
August 2022
I was a teenage Napster obsessive – and illegal downloading changed my music taste for good
Emma Garland
The P2P giant was shut down 20 years ago this week. But the omnivorous mindset it encouraged in a generation resonates in the very best of today’s genre-smashing pop
November 2021
The month's best album reviews
Self Esteem, Sam Fender and more: November’s best album reviews
Discover all our four- and five-star album reviews from the last month, from pop to folk, classical and more
October 2021
James Blake: Friends That Break Your Heart review – a breakup album with a difference
The singer-songwriter articulates the pain of lost friendships against a backdrop of chamber music and trap pop
June 2021
Folk singer Mustafa: ‘I’m trying to preserve the memories of young Black Muslims’
The poet, a songwriter for artists including the Weeknd, explains how music helped him explore the loss of friends to inner-city violence: ‘Sorrow is meant to be experienced and felt’
March 2021
Lockdown culture
William Forsythe: The Barre Project review – a half-hour of perfection
WithTiler Peck leading the line with absolute control, William Forsythe’s Zoom-coordinated new work reaps the benefits of creative limitations
December 2019
Best music of 2019
The 50 best albums of 2019: the full list
Our pick of the year’s finest albums brings American dreaming, teenage dynamism, heartbreak, barbed rap, impetuous indie and beautiful soundscapes
May 2019
All Points East review – blockbuster festival makes a muted return
Standout sets from the Chemical Brothers and Christine and the Queens salvage an opening weekend marred by sound issues
April 2019
Rosie Lowe on 'vodka in the park', sex therapy and neo-soul
The musician probes big questions of love and faith on her new album
February 2019
James Blake: how the producer became hip-hop's favourite Brit
Nominated for two Grammy awards this week, his collaborations with Travis Scott follow those with Beyoncé. How did the DJ from Enfield become so well-connected?
January 2019
Kitty Empire's artist of the week
James Blake: Assume Form review – a big, glitchy, swooning, hyper-modern declaration of love
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
James Blake: Assume Form review – lovestruck producer turns dark into light
November 2018
R&B star HER: ‘I wanted to be anonymous’
Her songs are streamed in the millions and her music is beloved by Janet Jackson. But who is HER, the songwriter who hides her identity with a pair of sunglasses?
July 2018
Ranked
Every Mercury prize-winning album – ranked!
Following the announcement of this year’s nominees, we run the rule over the 26 albums that have earned the crown, from Klaxons and James Blake to M People and Talvin Singh
Tainted love: how Drake started pop’s erotic comedown
In music, the joy of sex has been supplanted by nihilism and melancholy. Has the digital age made pop lose its loving feeling?
James Blake speaks out about struggle with depression
Musician says he has sought treatment for ‘suicidal thoughts’, and urges public figures to help remove stigma about mental illness
