Lightspeed Champion - Falling off the Lavender Bridge
When Dev Hynes split up shortlived dance-punk scenesters Test Icicles in 2006, he claimed that the Londoners parted because they themselves weren't still fans of their irritable, beat-fuelled mayhem. "We were never, ever that keen on the music," he said. "I infer that people liked it, merely we personally, er, didn't."
It's no surprise so that Hynes has shuffled his way to the other end of the spectrum to make the country-rock flavoured 'Falling forth the Lavender Bridge' - his commencement record album under the Lightspeed Champion sobriquet. What is a blow all the same - presumption how poor people an outfit Test Icicles were - is that Hynes' solo debut oft bristles with quality.
Produced by Brilliantly Eyes member Mike Moggis, 'Falling off the Lavender Bridge' blends alcoholic Britpop with phratry, country and Americana, devising for a much more musically get on record than might have been expected.
Recorded in Brilliantly Eyes' base of Omaha, Cornhusker State, Hynes' record is filled with emotive melodies, acoustic guitars and lilting string section. A number of Bright Eyes and Saddle Creek records regulars too crop up to bid input, pickings Hynes' by all odds low-key Greater London indie lullabies and propping them up with shades of Nashville and Bright Eyes flavoured folks rock.
Indeed, given Mogis' input, it's hard non to listen to Lightspeed Whizz without Conor Oberst organism brought to mind. It's a comparability however which takes off from Hynes', highlighting his shortcomings instead than pointing out his positive degree attributes.
Such plus points to Hynes' songs are his deft hand at twisting complex melody about simple guitar progressions, wholly of which he does to strong impression on the album's opening pair of songs, namely singles 'Galaxy of The Lost'; 'Tell Me What It's Worth'; and the 10-minute folk-epic 'Midnight Surprise'.
Where the album falters - in comparison to Oberst - is that Hynes' rambles lack the poetic swirl his former touring partner can buoy seemingly let loose at will. Non to say that Hynes' lyrics ar poor, though they trap the record album in 2008 and it's in all probability that 'Falling off the Lavender Bridge' won't years well.
Hynes' focus is on pickings gage shots at Greater London conniption kids hearing to whatever music genre is 'hip' and getting so inebriate in Camden clubs that they grow "sick in your mouth". Such lyrics drip mold in debt to Weezer frontman River Cuomo's dry slacker wag, though they don't sit down with Hynes' as substantially. Against the mature musical backcloth, such subjects seem trivial and immature, while Hynes' vocal deliverance - akin to Axis Party's Kele Okereke - doesn't always serve the songs well.
Over 12 tracks the album's initial burst of quality begins to wane, and by its decision it feels like there's marginally to a greater extent filler than grampus here.
Nonetheless, at least sevener of the tracks featured head towards an interesting futurity should Hynes' human relationship with his Omaha friends begin to blossom. The singles aside; 'Dry Lips' and 'Everyone I Know Is Listening to Crunk' in particular proposition stand come out.
A better track record than expected, then, simply not as trade good as the holocene epoch plug surrounding the Londoner might intimate.
Steve Cummins
