Blood Orange - Freetown Sound Review

I'd like to think that Dev Hynes' personal revelation that he's actually black was something like Richard Pryor's discovery in See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Of course it was probably never that funny. For years, Hynes' old project of Lightspeed Champion literally championed ode's of nerdom and lovelorn lust...and occasionally complaining at why his best friends were listening to crunk.

Tame Impala - Currents Review

I always keep a note on what albums I've listened to and what are on the proverbial pile. As the year has gone on, I've listened to many good, heck, even great albums. But nothing close to outstanding and although there are some records on the pile which I'm hyped for and can only hope they succeed beyond previous releases, I didn't know where to place Tame Impala's newest record.

Like many, I heard Elephant, liked Elephant, gave the album Elephant was on a spin, gave the album before the one Elephant was on a spin too, liked most of it although felt there was room for improvement and life moved on.

I never had a chance to listen to the singles preceding Current's general release but presumed it was more of the same and would get around to it.

Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves Review

Dev Hynes’ repertoire has taken us from noise punk with Test Icicles (a band apparently ahead of it’s time) and Lightspeed Champion; a self confessed experimental project where Hynes can combine catchy folk tunes with lyrics that go from terrible hangovers to playing The Legend of Zelda.

After spending last year wallowing in self pity due to some unfortunate critical bashing (Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You was for me, one of the best records of 2010), producing Diane Vickers new album, hanging out with Solange Knowles and Jay-Z, Hynes has still found time to release his debut album under new banner Blood Orange; which after two years of sporadic demos has finally seen full releases of several old favourites and new songs.