Released: 28th April 2023
Published By: Good Soldier under AWAL Recordings Ltd
After a three-year break, UK singer Freya Ridings has returned to the scene with Blood Orange.
Freya started her music career in the late 2010s, putting out several singles then following up with a self-titled debut album. Much of the 2019 release was serene and atmospheric, but “Lost Without You” was the standout track, a peaceful and reflective piano piece that really showed off a calm demeanour. From an aesthetic standpoint, she continues a minimalistic presentation while going beyond her original work.
As soon as Blood Orange begins, you can see that Ridings is upping the pace and tone of her music. There are more instruments, many of them string-based, and a greater use of drums and percussion. Upbeat tracks were a rarity in the last album, showing an artist keen to push forward and expand her talents into different styles. “Bite Me” and “Weekends” take on a more relatable feel with Freya’s distinctive, booming voice always leading the way. This includes the more energised tracks “Dancing in a Hurricane” and “Wither on the Vine”. These represent the more ambitious steps taken as the artist blends vocal notes together.
Even with this progression, Freya has several songs that stay close to her roots; “Face In The Crowed”, “Perfect” and “Someone New” balance out this new direction without straying far from her thematic trappings. The blend of piano keys and vocals remains incredibly effective. All the way through, Blood Orange is about the social scene, changes in relationships and gradually moving forward, a seamless transition from its predecessor. To close out the album, “I Feel Love” leans towards evening party vibes with a brief use of synthesisers, perhaps hinting at future experiments for the singer.
Blood Orange is a great expansion for Freya Ridings; the artist moves beyond her humble beginnings for a more lively and energetic track list. Anyone who dives in will find a steady balance of rhythms, tones and resonant lyrics.
Rating: B