Written by Mia Tallulah
From the electronic-style album ‘Cupid Deluxe’ to the eclectic, hard-hitting release of ‘Freetown Sound’, Blood Orange’s unique fluidity between music genres has never disappointed, and his talent has continued to be showcased through his release of ‘Essex Honey’ in August this year. The album is a tear-inducing composition of emotionally layered songs, from ‘The Last Of England’ that addresses grief and loss throughout raw, honest lyrics to the introspective ‘Thinking Clean’.
The album was released seven years after his previous album, sparking excitement throughout fans at the long-awaited announcement of a new collection of soul-shattering songs. Currently touring worldwide this Winter, old and new fans alike have the chance to hear this talented collocation of songs live.
The themes of his hometown, grief, memory and identity frequent the album, with ‘Somewhere In Between’ being one of the standout singles. It addresses adolescence and wishing to go back to his youth in order to make it better, shown through the lyrics “And in the middle of your life, could you have taken some more time?”. Particularly hard-hitting, however, is the opening verse, particularly the lyrics “So I surrender to being just a body with tired limbs”. Blood Orange truly encapsulates the feeling of the soul rotting away before your body, diving straight into sorrowful themes in the opening lines of the song.
Perhaps the most popular song of the album, ‘Mind Loaded’ features a range of talented artists, including Lorde, Caroline Polachek and Mustafa. The song addresses loss and the denial that comes along with grief, creating a brooding image of the downfall of a person. In particular, the lyrics “New packet, light smoker” create the sense of a person going through the motions robotically on autopilot, emphasising how his lyrics paint an honest, realistic illustration of grief and coping mechanisms.
‘Essex Honey’ is essentially a time-capsule of the loss, joys and doubts that tainted Blood Orange’s childhood, and captures the raw, messy nature of humans in an honest and raw fashion by relating back to his own deeply personal experiences. If his tear-invoking lyrics appeal to you, why not see Blood Orange in the flesh this winter?
Leave a Reply