It’s been a while since I did a music post and found an album that grabbed me, and here’s one that’s just been released that I’m liking a lot. Blood Orange’s (Dev Hynes) new album Freetown Sound clocks in at just under an hour in length with 17 tracks. Hynes is the master of reinvention with prior musical incarnations and although originally from London is now fully ensconced in New York.

Freetown Sound has a funky, laid back R&B crossed with pop sound that also has a political voice and poetry aplenty. It’s  intended for those “not black enough, too black, too queer, not queer the right way.”  Freetown Sound also features a bevy of women vocalists, whose voices work really well alongside Blood Orange‘s musical flourishes. Plus there are loads of great tracks. To be honest I pretty much like every one. There is a lightness that comes across musically even though there is a darker side to the album.

Freetown Sound is my current summer favourite album so far. Road trip perfection? Maybe we’ll need to road test it first.

Favourite Tracks :

E.V.P. : a sort of funky Rapture style tune with surprise surprise Debbie Harry on vocals. 

Hadron Collider :  is a stand out slow number featuring Nelly Furtado.

Best To You  : features the gorgeous vocals of Empress Of  and you could even try freaky slow dancing to this. 

Better Than Me : has perky Carly Rae Jepsen with a lot of spoken vocals. 

Take a listen to single Augustine and you’ll catch a glimpse of Julian Casablancas from The Strokes who makes an appearance.