Blood Orange was never very present in my life. As I read Songs in the Key of MP3 — a great book! — I was naturally enticed to check some of his work; the author paints a portrait of an incredibly active artist, eager to experiment and collaborate. In fact, while this album stands alongisde other contemporary releases (like one-off xxyyzz, or Frank Ocean's Channel Orange...and many others), I feel like Blood Orange comes into space via the collaborations. With Carly Rae Jepsen, for example; oh, the early 2010's...

...but as I read the book, I could not quite put a finger upon my strongest memory of his — which, well, after a google search, could be Best To You; it also happens that Solange's Losing You sounds quintessential Dev Hynes — it is written and produced by him, in fact! — and, well, I rest my point. Blood Orange makes for quite cute music, but I am afraid it tends to coalesce into one big puddle of sameness in my mind.