Dev Hynes was the heart of one of the mid-noughties’ biggest indie/rock/nu-rave/whatever-name-you-want-to-give-it sensations, Test Icicles.
A band with a funny name that released only one album in 2006 called “For Screening Purposes Only” and split up a year after its release. Their edgy, Bloc Party-ish single Circle Square Triangle was an anthem for indie discos across Europe. Soon Test Icicles were sanctified into indie rock heaven, and even more so for splitting up before their tunes started getting weaker (i.e. Bloc Party).
After their split, Devonté Hynes started a new career under the alias Lightspeed Champion, this time playing a very different genre, where the distorted guitars made way for acoustic ones and the screaming mutated into singing. Along with his new solo endeavor, he has also written songs for Florence and the Machine, Basement Jaxx and the Chemical Brothers.
At the end of 2009, with a new look, looking more like a cross between Love’s Arthur Lee and a delta bluesman than the indie fashionista he has always been, a new found love for Danelectro guitars and a new album, “Life is Sweet! Nice To Meet You” things are finally starting to look good for Dev.
First single “Marlene” starts with a thumping bass and drum, where country violins and bells infiltrate into the background before a Danelectro surfy riff leads to the chorus, accompanied by more bows and a lighter chorus, only to fall back in the bouncy beat.
This is an interesting and new direction for one our generation’s artistic chameleons, who has has found a new detour in his musical path. Dev’s ever-changing ways and new musical maturity keep us curiously wondering what is to come next!
Tags: Dev Hynes, indie, Lightspeed Champion, Music, test icicles
