Lightspeed Champion – Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You

Ukulele and Gnarls Barkley? Just some of  the influences on Lightspeed Champion’s second album!

Behind the musical project Lightspeed Champion stands the singer-songwriter Devonté Hynes. Born in Texas and raised in Essex, England, he got his first break into the music world with his former band, Test Icicles. The dance-punk band split up only six months after the release of their debut record because they “were never, ever that keen on the music…people liked it, but we personallydidn’t,”  Hynes said.

His second album Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You was produced by Ben Allen who also worked on the sound of Gnarls Barkley and the Brit-Award nominated Animal Collective. Its Folk-Rock-Pop songs come to life by the use of a number of different instruments like guitar, piano, ukulele and percussion.

The single Marlene is carried by violins and a catchy guitar riff making it the top hit of the album. There’s Nothing Underwater talks about the longing for someone in a positve, loving way. Lightspeed Champion sings “every second that you run away makes me miss you more and more”. The Big Guns of Highsmith stands out due to its piano tune and background choirs.

This is a record about love, the loss of it and the problems it causes. The songs get into your head even if you don’t want them to be there. Lightspeed Champion tries to create a dramatic atmosphere but unfortunately slides into kitsch now and then. All in all the sound is more developed than the debut Falling off the Lavender Bridge and you should look forward to what Lightspeed Champion is doing next.

Rating: 3/5