Building Something Beautiful for Me
| Building Something Beautiful for Me | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | 7 October 2022 | |||
| Genre | Electronic | |||
| Length | 43:41 | |||
| Label | Phantom Limb | |||
| Producer | Loraine James | |||
| Loraine Jameschronology | ||||
| ||||
Building Something Beautiful for Meis the fourth album byLondon-based electronic musicianLoraine James,released on 7 October 2022 through Phantom Limb. It was conceived as an homage to the works of composerJulius Eastmanand received acclaim from critics.
Background[edit]
The album is both an homage and response to the work of composerJulius Eastman,with the parenthetical subtitles of the songs referencing various works by Eastman, namely "Stay on It", "Crazy Nigger", "Femenine" and "The Holy Presence of Joan d'Arc".[1]
Critical reception[edit]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 78/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10[3] |
| Mojo |   [4] |
| Pitchfork | 6.9/10[5] |
| The Skinny | [6] |
| Uncut | 7/10[7] |
Building Something Beautiful for Mereceived a score of 78 out of 100 on review aggregatorMetacriticbased on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[2]Mojowrote that "James's reputation as one of electronic music's most daring, inquisitive artists grows record by record",[4]andThe Wireopined that it is "unmistakeably a Loraine James record – the synths are capacious and the beats are intricately counterintuitive – but Eastman's work has clearly been generative".[2]Uncutstated that James's "light, airy palette, punctuated by arresting stabs and scattershot rhythm, is informed by vintageSquarepusherandPlaid– but Eastman's pioneering work as a black, gay musician operating in challenging times clearly resonates with James ".[7]
Reviewing the album forThe Quietus,Claire Sawers describedBuilding Something Beautiful for Meas an "at times stunning electronic album that continues [Eastman's] radical, minimal legacy, while Anglifying some of his messages" as it is "a gentler listen by comparison" although "with some anger still there".[8]Clash's Lee Wakefield remarked that it "finds Loraine innovating once again, inspired by the composer Julius Eastman and his tragic passing", elaborating that "out of devastation, Loraine has pieced together an album to cherish".[3]
Joe Creely ofThe Skinnywrote that the album "fares far better the further it strays from replicating Eastman's work", concluding that it "feels like something of a minor work in James's already imposing output, but remains a pointer to both her and Eastman's sparkling talents".[6]Pitchfork's Jayson Greene felt that James "appears more interested in weightless washes of tone, often drifting and beat-free, which is a curious approach for Eastman's work, particularly because it fails to illuminate much about what James found in it".[5]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Maybe If I (Stay on It)" | 3:56 |
| 2. | "The Perception of Me (Crazy Nigger)" | 8:34 |
| 3. | "Choose to Be Gay (Femenine)" | 7:09 |
| 4. | "Building Something Beautiful for Me (Holy Presence of Joan d'Arc)" | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Enfield, Always" | 6:08 |
| 6. | "My Take" | 5:08 |
| 7. | "Black Excellence (Stay on It)" | 5:04 |
| 8. | "What Now (Prelude to the Holy Presence of Joan d'Arc)" | 4:56 |
| Total length: | 43:41 | |
References[edit]
- ^Strauss, Matthew (19 July 2022)."Loraine James Announces Julius Eastman–Inspired Album, Shares New Song: Listen".Pitchfork.Retrieved20 September2023.
- ^abc"Building Something Beautiful for Meby Loraine James Reviews and Tracks ".Metacritic.Retrieved20 September2023.
- ^abWakefield, Lee (6 October 2022)."Loraine James –Building Something Beautiful for Me| Reviews ".Clash.Retrieved20 September2023.
- ^ab"Loraine James –Building Something Beautiful for Me".Mojo.December 2022. p. 91.
- ^abGreene, Jayson (26 October 2022)."Loraine James:Building Something Beautiful for MeAlbum Review ".Pitchfork.Retrieved20 September2023.
- ^abCreely, Joe (4 October 2022)."Loraine James album review:Building Something Beautiful for Me".The Skinny.Retrieved20 September2023.
- ^ab"Loraine James –Building Something Beautiful for Me".Uncut.October 2022. p. 32.
- ^Sawers, Claire (7 October 2022)."Loraine James:Building Something Beautiful for Me".The Quietus.Retrieved20 September2023.