Never Enough Notes e-zine // reviews + interviews + music

Blood Orange is the new project of Dev Hynes, who you may have known previously as Test Icicles and Lightspeed Champion. However, his fur hat has been left behind along with these projects, unfortunately.

Dev Hynes is not one to continue a project for very long. When he ditches for something new, you’ll find it is COMPLETELY new. This is nothing like his other two projects. Instead, the album contains a more airy 80s dance feel as opposed to the fast-paced dance-punk style of TI or more experimental, slower-paced indie of LC. Although sounding like something that could have been created twenty-five years ago, it feels perfect for the beginning of a new decade and does not feel at all old-fashioned. The raw sound of his voice makes the songs feel very honest and perhaps more mature than before.

Opening track “Forget It” breaks you into the album, letting you know that he is ‘not your saviour’, however, after a heavy day, this would be the perfect album to stick on and chill to and forget the stress of a hard day’s work. It continues on in much the same fashion, followed by new single “Sutphin Boulevard”. The style reminds me a little of The Cure, with striking bass lines and heavy reverb on the drums. It even contains the haunting, gothic feel of Robert Smith’s vocals, in particular on the track “Complete Failure”.

I give the album a 9/10, and hope Dev holds onto this project for a little longer!