Cringe Inducingly Good
As a over hyped faddish band that rode on a gigantic wave of industry buzz and a name that made adolescent sniggering almost obligatory, the demise of the Test Icicles a couple of years back was mourned by very few. Even the band themselves couldn’t work out what all the fuss was about; as singer Dev Hynes claimed himself they were never about the music and didn’t really like what they produced anyway. But instead of disappearing into the background, destined to become an embarrassing footnote in the history of music, Hynes is back and has suffered a somewhat astonishing make over. Having discovered country, unplugged and embraced his vulnerable sensitive side Hynes has returned with the new moniker of Lightspeed Champion and an album that makes the agitated punk of Test Icicles look like the Gallows.
Taking the MySpace generation one step further, ‘Falling Off The Lavender Bridge’ is draped in uncompromised honesty as Hynes throws open his life for all to scrutinise backed subtly by his quietly vulnerable voice and the gentle lull of strings. Coming across as a self-conscious geek, Hynes autobiographical lyrics deals with issues from relationship break ups to racism all with a startling realism and bluntness that at times smacks you coldly across the face as he reiterates the fears and frustrations of a generation spoon fed a diet of celebrity and reality TV until they are world weary and disheartened. Songs such as ‘Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk’ finds Hynes trying to figure out why everyone is trying to act the same, to like what they are told to without question but far from condemning them the Lightspeed Champion sympathises with his peers making for an attractive change that instantly appeals.
With the light murmurs of melodica sweeping over every track it would be easy for Lightspeed Champions debut album to blend into the background but luckily Hynes is at hand to stop such a catastrophe as his brashly personal lyrics immediately jolt, often leaving you cringing at their intimacy as such lines as “wake up smell the semen” (Midnight Surprise) delivers more detail than is probably necessary. Likewise ‘I Could Have Done This By Myself’ paints a blunt if somewhat comical picture of a less than impressive sexual encounter that shows Hynes is far from the miserably paranoid nerd that so much of his subject matters suggests. Yes, his lyrics are introspectively etched in paranoia and self-conscious nervousness but Hynes still sneaks in humour to make you realise its not all bad and as the tracks Arcade Fire-esque builds rousingly, you start to believe that Hynes just might be right.
A modern day wordsmith for the blogging generation, Lightspeed Champion’s debut album is one that is bursting with unflinching honesty and whilst at times this can be unnerving and verging on the teenaged whiny side, you can not help but be drawn further into Hynes world. Gone is the screaming in your face antics of Test Icicles replaced by the folk tinged beauty of Lightspeed Champion as Hynes pent up emotions erupt in brutal sincerity from every line suggesting that perhaps honesty really is the best policy.