The Mercury Music Prize and GRAMMY Award-winning artist James Blake has marked the news by releasing the album’s intricate lead single, ‘Big Hammer’.
Have a watch of the track’s trippy bank heist video, directed by Radiohead and Bonobo collaborator Oscar Hudson.
Playing Robots Into Heaven is the follow-up to Blake’s acclaimed 2021 album, Friends That Break Your Heart, which marked the DJ and producer’s highest chart finish to date by peaking at fourth.
The new album has been billed as a return from Blake to the electronic roots of his Hessle, Hemlock and R&S records days.
Playing Robots Into Heaven album artwork
In addition to the new single, James has announced that he’ll be heading out on a headline international tour, which will include dates in the UK, Europe and North America.
Commencing at the Fabrique in Milan on 18 September, the shows will also include a night at London’s storied Alexandra Palace show on 28 September. See below for full list of dates.
18 Sep – Milan, Italy – Fabrique
21 Sep – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National Club
22 Sep – Paris, France – L’Olympia
24 Sep – Berlin, Germany – UFO im Velodrom
26 Sep – Tilburg, Netherlands – O13
28 Sep – London, UK – Alexandra Palace
3 Oct – Atlanta, GA , U.S. – Coca Cola Roxy
5 Oct – Queens, NY, U.S. – Knockdown Center
9 Oct – Boston, MA, U.S – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
10 Oct – Montreal, QC, – Canada L’Olympia
12 Oct – Toronto, ON, – Canada Rebel
14 Oct – Chicago, IL, U.S. – Aragon Ballroom
16 Oct – San Francisco, CA, U.S. – The Masonic Theater
19 Oct – Los Angeles, CA, U.S. – Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Fans who pre-order the album from James Blake’s official site by 6pm on Monday 3 July will get access to exclusive ticket pre-sale for his Alexandra Palace show on 4 July, ahead of general sale on 7 July.
