Lightspeed Champion -‘Falling Off Lavender Bridge’ (Domino)

[Dev Haynes’ first solo album has been written about and discussed across the blogs and the media over the past few weeks. I’d like to chip in with my views, without mentioning so much of what keeps getting covered and detracting from the album itself].

January can seem an odd time to release new albums, given that most of us are still too broke to buy anything after Christmas, and there is a flurry of anticipation about who the new acts of this brave new year are going to be (guilty, your honour). When an album is by yet another singer-songwriter -how wearying must it have been in the sixties with every new Bob Dylan that was touted – the risk of them being judged without the album being properly listened to but me considered high.

In this case, the surprise about this record coming out in January is because this is such a summery record (with apologies to any southern hemisphere readers). With every listen, the lush arrangements that enhance what may be pretty angry songs at times, this is an album for summer days rather than winter nights.

Like Scritti Politti’s ‘The Word Girl’ the record feels angry when encountered between the lines and whilst it’s easy to listen to, repeated and considered listens will reveal the charms and intensity within. Highlights the ten minute long ‘Midnight Surprise’ and ‘Galaxy Of The Lost.’ He also does a mean cover version of Amy winehouse’s ‘Back To Black’ that stands pretty damn strong on its own terms.

So, it bears no relation to what he did as part of Test Icicles. Yes, there are other men out there who are performing with acoustic guitars, get over it. This album is only MOR to those listening with half an ear. Give it a listen and see what you make of it, rather than listening to lazy comparisons.

****

Falling Off Lavender Bridge is out now on Domino

Lightspeed Champion -‘All To Shit.’ mp3

Lightspeed Champion -‘Midnight Surprise.’ mp3

Lightspeed Champion’s website

Lightspeed Champion’s MySpace