There’s something quietly arresting about the way James Blake rolls out a record. No bombast, no rush – just a slow, deliberate unveiling that pulls you further into his orbit with each release. His forthcoming album Trying Times (landing March 13 via Good Boy Records) is shaping up in exactly that fashion, and the latest glimpse, "I Had A Dream She Took My Hand", might be its most disarming moment yet.
There’s a familiar tension running through it too. Much like its predecessor, "Death Of Love", the song hovers in that uneasy space between hope and dread. It’s music that reflects the low-level anxiety of modern living, the constant push and pull between wanting connection and feeling overwhelmed by everything that comes with it.
Listen to/watch a live video of it below:
Set in a sterile, corporate-looking environment, it frames Blake against a backdrop that feels intentionally hollow, fluorescent, impersonal, almost oppressive. If "Death Of Love" hinted at that world, this visual drops you right inside it.
Blake is set to take Trying Times on the road across North America, with dates lined up in major cities including New York, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Presale kicks off February 17, with general sale opening February 20.
James Blake 2026 dates
5/27 Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
5/29 New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
5/30 New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
5/31 Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
6/02 Washington, DC @ The Anthem
6/04 Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
6/06 Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
6/08 Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
6/11 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
6/12 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
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