James Blake new album: Singer surprise releases The Colour In Anything

The singer's third album features collaborations with Bon Iver and Frank Ocean

Illustrator Quentin Blake is behind James Blake's haunting new cover artwork

James Blake has ‘done a Beyonce’ and dropped his new album as a surprise.

The English singer-songwriter released The Colour In Anything on iTunes and streaming services on Friday morning after announcing it on Annie Mac’s Thursday night Radio 1 show.

Blake’s third LP is the follow-up to 2013’s Overgrown, which won him the Mercury Prize, and his self-titled 2011 debut.

Previously-heard singles “Radio Silence”, “Modern Soul” and “Timeless” all appear on the tracklist, along with new song “My Willing Heart” and his collaboration with Bon Iver, “I Need a Forest Fire”.

Blake told Mac that working with Justin Vernon was “an honour”. “He just sings gold and it comes out quickly and effortlessly and that’s the kind of person he is,” he said.

Vernon, meanwhile, has tweeted about the album, thanking “wonderful accidents and good friendship” for the existence of their song together.

Frank Ocean also features on the album, as a co-writer for “Always”, while Blake recently revealed that a Kanye West collaboration ended up not being used.

Quentin Blake, best known for his work on Roald Dahl’s children’s books, has illustrated the cover art.

The full tracklist is as follows:

“Radio Silence”

“Points“

“Love Me In Whatever Way”

“Timeless”

“F.O.R.E.V.E.R“

“Put That Away And Talk To Me”

“I Hope My Life (1-800 Mix)”

“Waves Know Shores”

“Choose Me”

“I Need A Forest Fire”

“Noise Above Our Heads”

“The Colour In Anything”

“My Willing Heart”

“Two Men Down”

“Modern Soul”

“Always”

“Meet You In The Maze”