The evolution of Dev Hynes hits a heady peak on the new Blood Orange release, Cupid Deluxe. After the punk-rock implosion of Test Icicles and a couple of earnest indie-rock recordings under the Lightspeed Champion moniker, Hynes adopted a more dance-orientated, new wave sound for 2011’s underrated Blood Orange debut, Coastal Grooves. Perhaps his greatest exposure has come from co-writing and producing songs with others, notably the recent successes for Solange (Losing You) and Sky Ferreira (Everything Is Embarrassing).
Hynes’ dabbling with an accessible pop sound has had a big influence on Cupid Deluxe, which confidently combines all that he has learnt into one big, bubbling funk-pop-dance cauldron. Recent twitter spats suggest that Solange/Hynes collaborations are a thing of the past, and lead single Chamakay has a clip that slyly inverts Solange’s Losing You promo, instead bringing Hynes into the spotlight as the shimmying pop star in a low-key setting.
The mix of melancholy subject matter and upbeat pop instrumentation that made Coastal Grooves so alluring is potently realised on this follow-up. Hynes had warned “I am not your saviour, baby girl” on the opener of his last album and he takes this warning to a new level on the narcissistic, mean-spirited You’re Not Good Enough. The last thirty seconds open to a bustling warehouse party, with live band, ping-pong games and a rabble of voices, the most prominent being a wary “No-one wants to see that.” The following track, Uncle Ace, is a gorgeous chunk of funk that sees Hynes slip from a low Boney M-style vocal to a higher, soulful croon, but the track gets even better in its instrumental second half. It’s the most uplifting, fun song you’ll ever hear about the homeless LGBT community in New York.
As the album progresses, the guest musicians become more prominent. It’s unusual that Hyne’s most definitive work is also his most guest-heavy, though perhaps this is a sign that collaborating is where his strength lies. Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth delivers a star turn in the Clams Casino-infused No Right Thing, while girlfriend and Friends’ vocalist Samantha Urbani duets on the delicate, soothing It Is What It Is. Slick, concise rap cameos are dropped in from Despot on Clipped On and Skepta on High Street, with Hynes weaving heartfelt vocals in and around them.
It’s apt that on such a complete, self-actualizing album, Hynes ends up referencing his own work on the final track, Time Will Tell. He takes over from Urbani for a reprised vocal from It Is What It Is over a minimal piano and drum machine backing, after which the lyrics switch to the “come into my bedroom” hook from one of Coastal Groove’s highlights, Champagne Coast. It’s a soft, emotive and seductive close to one of the best albums of 2013. Just ignore any reviews calling it ‘chillwave’. Let’s agree to never use that word again, shall we?
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
Best Track: Uncle Ace
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: True SOLANGE, Confess TWIN SHADOW
In A Word: Desirable
