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January 22, 2008
Single: Lightspeed Champion: TELL ME WHAT IT'S WORTH
Domino • Released Monday 7th January 2008

Much hype surrounds Dev Hynes, the devilishly handsome genius behind Lightspeed Champion. He's a former member of Test Icicles, a trio whose music and general on-stage movement resembled characters in a flick book. In contrast to this, Hynes’s current incarnation takes a drastic departure from his musically angular Test Icicle work. Tell Me What It’s Worth, the third single from his debut album, Falling Off The Lavender Bridge is a melancholic ode complemented by backing vocals worthy of a Disney Princess (actually the work of Emmy the Great). Mesmerising as this vocal combination is, once I listened closer, I found the lyrics humourously abrasive as Hynes coos 'negros turn a blueish-grey when they're dead, well that's funny 'cause I've just gone quite red'. Hynes’s lyrics provide a welcome contrast to the sing-song melodies of most folk music.

When watching Channel 4 at a ridiculous time somewhere between Friday night and Saturday morning I came across Hynes being interviewed. After confessing eternal devotion to American rock band Weezer, he took to the stage and played an acoustic set complete with violin accompaniment. It’s refreshing to see an artist who refuses to be pigeonholed into one musical category, be it folk, anti-pop punk or rock, but welcomes all influences.

Written by Catherine McColl | Posted on January 22, 2008 3:10 PM

Comments:

I love political incorrectness SO MUCH.

XX

Posted by: Christel on January 29, 2008 5:21 PM

I love Disney Princess SO MUCH.

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Posted by: Dev on January 29, 2008 5:57 PM

oh yeah. she went there.....

Posted by: Janey on January 30, 2008 12:01 PM

ahh Christel, you're such a classic! memories of amelia's kitchen with those babies floating around for weeks. x hello to amelia and catherine and crew also. love love love xxxxxx jess

Posted by: jessy wessy on January 30, 2008 10:39 PM

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