Modern Soul album art

Modern Soul

James Blake
The Colour in Anything (2017)
Moderate 70 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Stylesoft vocals
Notes: The song features a rich, layered sound with soft, emotive vocals that create an intimate atmosphere. The production includes subtle electronic elements that enhance its depth and complexity.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsmild
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A reflective and atmospheric track that explores themes of love and connection through James Blake's signature sound.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: contemplative, intimate, melancholy

Traditions: electronic, soul

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: soft vocals.

Where this sits in James Blake's catalog

We have 31 songs from James Blake in the library. Of those, 2 are rated Safe, 29 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.7, making it the #10 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from The Colour in Anything

We have 2 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2017 context

Released in 2017. We have 461 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.0/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
contemplative · 3297intimate · 2267melancholy · 5399
Traditions
electronic · 918soul · 787

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-16. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "Modern Soul"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Modern Soul" by James Blake?

"Modern Soul" by James Blake rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "Modern Soul" — what is its dynamic range?

"Modern Soul" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "Modern Soul" have sudden or surprising changes?

"Modern Soul" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "Modern Soul" best for?

In our library "Modern Soul" is recommended for: deep listening, meditation, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Modern Soul" released?

"Modern Soul" is from 2017, on the album "The Colour in Anything". It appears in our 2010s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Modern Soul"?

We tag "Modern Soul" as contemplative, intimate, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Modern Soul"?

The vocal style is soft vocals.

Should I listen to "Modern Soul"?

"Modern Soul" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

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Fire Your Guns
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New Lands
Justice
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Status Seeking
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These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

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Camila Cabello safe

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