Crack

17/20

Blood Orange is the latest project from Essex boy done good Dev Hynes. Having moved on from the alt-folk musings of Lightspeed Champion and the manic and yelpy dance-indie of Test Icicles, his latest creation is this, an album composed in NY and recorded in LA. It’s clear from one listen that it’s his most accomplished work to date.

He has struck upon a soulful and stripped down, late-night sound, drawing on soul and R & B, and taking aesthetic cues (through artwork and videos) from the New York drag and transgender scenes. It’s an intense and evocative sound, from the brooding, sparse Can We Go Inside Now to the heartfelt and delicate Are You Sure You’re Really Busy?, complete with descending key progressions (a trick used to equal effect on closer Champage Coast). The majority of the talking on the latter is left to some stylish guitar work, which manages to be noodly whilst remaining completely tasteful. Meanwhile, the funk-quota is blown in its entirety on unashamed dancefloor number The Complete Knock, Hynes coming off like a lo-fi Prince.

This is seriously confident songwriting, and an exceptional debut. Let’s hope he sticks with this project for some while longer.



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Words: Geraint Davies

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