With his second album, New York-residing Brit Devonté Hynes (a.k.a. Lightspeed Champion) has shed the folk-infused acoustic guitar of his debut, Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, for classical pianos, electric guitar, ’70s synth and musical theatre. Straying from what would have been the safest road, Hynes refrained from releasing another “Tell Me What It’s Worth” or “Midnight Surprise” and attempted to create something exceptional. The result isn’t perfect but it’s different without losing the pop sensibilities that will, hopefully, make Lightspeed Champion stand out from every other band that received some sort of attention in 2009 from North America’s ostentatious yet high-consuming indie crowd. There is a looming aura of pretension when relatively underachieving pop musicians include “intermissions” on their album, but there is no denying that the short piano breaks progress the music inconspicuously. Maybe it was the influence of producer Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley) or maybe Hynes is finding his place within the music world. Either way, Lightspeed Champion’s sophomore release offers a pleasant surprise to wary listeners. (Domino, www.dominorecords.us) Cindy Doyle
Winnipeg music & culture since 1989