You already owe Dev Hynes, otherwise known as Blood Orange, a listen to his new record Cupid Deluxe for his work on two of last year’s most important offerings: Solange‘s True EP and Sky Ferreira‘s “Everything Is Embarrassing.” He also produced Mutya Keisha Siobhan‘s “Flatline,” one of the greatest songs of 2013.
For those that dig the vibes of his work as a producer, you’re in luck: His artist work is similarly smooth and nostalgic. He’s a genre shape-shifter, loosely describable as “Alt-R&B,” floating in between quiet storm, funk, lounge, disco and just about everything in between. “Always Let U Down,” for instance, reminds me of Grace Jones‘ “Nipple To The Bottle,” while “Time Will Tell” feels like Prince. “Uncle Ace” plays like a ’70’s porn soundtrack. And then there’s “You’re Not Good Enough,” which plays like a perfect extension of the Solange EP.
It’s not a one man show, though: The album’s also littered with collaborations — from his girlfriend Samantha Urbani of Friends to Clams Casino to David Longstreth of The Dirty Projectors to Caroline Polachek of Chairlift.
It’s a slick collection filled with lush melodies and live instrumentation (weird!) — the perfect soundtrack to a night spent at home with a fancy glass of wine (or, you know, laying around alone in your underwear contemplating life’s great mysteries). For Dev, it’s further evidence of the depth of his talent and passion as a musician, and a solid addition to his increasingly impressive CV.
Stream the album on iTunes Radio, or YouTube, if you live outside of the United States.
And while you’re listening, check out this note Dev wrote about the stream of his album. It’s a good read.
‘Cupid Deluxe’ will be released on November 12. (iTunes)
