Blood Orange, also known as Devonte Hynes, returns from a 6-year hiatus with their album “Essex Honey,” released on August 29th. The British artist created an album that captures his experiences while growing up in Essex, England. Various themes, such as personal growth, yearning, and grief, flow throughout the 14 tracks, prompting reflection just as much as they do.
The opening track, “Look at You,” reminds me of what you would hear in a coming-of-age film. The track is slow and soft with the harmonies of his airy voice. Hynes repeats that it’s hard to look at you. “Knowing the truth about love and loss of youth?” It sounds as if Hynes is in a state of deep reflection on what’s happened and how he feels.
Transitioning into classical-esque “Thinking Clean,” where the piano pulls at your heartstrings with devastating lyrics. “What if everything was taken from beneath?”.
Tracks like “Somewhere in Between” and “The Field” touch on similar topics of learning how to let go. Experiencing loss is not an easy thing that anyone knows how to deal with when the time comes.
“Mind Loaded” explores how Hynes is struggling with his own emotions, and has a lot weighing on him; his mind is loaded, and his heart “still aches”. The beautiful, airy vocals from Caroline Polachek make the song hurt even more. It’s so good that it hurts.
“Vivid Light” feels like a warm hug on a rainy day. The mellow beat, the environment that Hynes describes in great detail, makes it feel as if you are in that room with him, staring out the window as the moon shines in.
Seeking consolation in nature and the mundane is what helped Hynes write “Countryside”. “Another morning here without you, thinking where did our time go?” is what Hynes sings. Like most of us, we get too caught up in our responsibilities, relationships, and jobs that we seem to forget to stop and appreciate the small things that bring us peace.
The opening of “The Last of England” is so hard to take in as it includes audio of Hynes’ mother in a hospital room. It’s a heartbreaking song dealing with the pain of losing a person. It sets the scene of where Hynes is at in this specific moment within the album.
“Life” is a song that gives you hope. Emphasizing that life is what you make it, and to take your experiences at your own pace. There is no need to rush into things if you don’t feel fully ready.
“Westerberg” and “The Train (King’s Cross)” are both whimsical and have hints of synth incorporated into both.
“Scared of It” and “I Listened (Every Night)” allow listeners to get into Hynes’ mind as he speaks of his anxiety. He feels exhausted by having to explain himself once more. It becomes tiring, and you feel like a broken record.
My personal favorite off the album is the closing track “I Can Go” that, in the way that I interpreted it, is “I can go where you are. I’m willing to go to where you are, no matter what it takes.” It feels like a light at the end of the tunnel. The obstacles you go through, there is a sense of guidance and acceptance that you know you will make it out.
“Essex Honey,” while sad within its lyrics, it’s almost as if Hynes wants you to feel the grief long after you finish the album. The melodies and instrumentals have that classic Blood Orange sound that fans are familiar with. It’s no secret that Devonte Hynes is an artist who works with purpose and intent throughout his musical career. Hynes takes a unique approach with his work that shows his raw emotion through all of his songs.
