Coastal Grooves is the new album by Devonte Hynes of Lightspeed Champion fame, now recording under the moniker Blood Orange.

I had Lightspeed Champion’s debut, Falling off the Lavender Bridge and really loved it for a while. The music was folk / pop with a Country twang but the lyrics came from somewhere else completely and contrasted well. They had an intimacy and a shocking honesty which impressed.

After years in London, Hynes has spent the last three years living in New York, writing and recording for other artists such as Florence & the Machine and Basement Jaxx. This time has also seen him making home recordings informed by walks around the city at night. These demos were turned into an album with the help of producer Ariel Rechtshaid (We are Scientists, Plain White T’s) on a trip to LA.

Where Lightspeed Champion was the sound of a swinging London, Blood Orange has the feel of a nocturnal New York and a clash of cultures. One can picture the sheen of neon lights and the seedy underground clubs.

These songs certainly sound a lot shinier and artificial than his previous folky, organic sound. Prominent in the sound is a rudimentary drum machine that does unfortunately overpower some of the tracks. There are many different musical styles and influences here including a lot of Oriental sounding melodies, spaghetti westerns and '80s synth pop. It shouldn’t work but it does. At first it sounds jumbled and incoherent but after a few listens it all comes together. This is pop music but not sing along pop, there’s more sophistication and depth. Give this album time and it rewards.

The best track, 'Are you sure you’re really busy?', has both swearing and a guitar solo.
'Champagne Coast', is the greatest R&B track of the last 20 years.

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Richard Arthur Bennett