Who’d have thought the demise of gonzo-noize punk band the Test Icicles would give rise to a black Ed Harcourt. Because that is exactly what you’ve got, minus the violent mutton-chops and Radio 2 flowing through his veins; Wogan would, afterall have his gentle Irish whimsy turning somersaults over the robust urban vernacular and the precarious mental stability of chief Champion fella, Dev Hynes – a fiery, uninhibited cauldron of neurotic energy, lyrical romance and knitted-sweaters.
Recorded in Omaha by Saddle Creek’s resident producer, Mike Mogis, the album is a semi-acoustic country-rock folk-pop gem swaddled handsomely in lush Americana. Layered with ambitious instrumentation, from strings, to cello, oboe, pedal steel, clarinet and flute, it’s a gentler more contemplative sound; light years away from the noise-punk metal of Dev’s previous act, Test Icicles – whose first and only album, ‘For Screening Purposes Only’ was to full on riff-tackling, eye-poppin’ noughties hardcore what the Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill was to the eighties generation.
Backed by a casual but not unruly brigand of outlaw multi-instrumentalists – that include Nate Walcott and Mike Mogis, the Faint’s drummer Clark Baechle, and guest vocalist Emmy The Great – plus moonlighting members of Cursive and Tilly And The Wall – Dev has been able to furnish his gently humorous, open-hearted songs with an unpretentious warmth. It’s a little having Pete Shelly and Percy Bysshe Shelley together in the same pair of velvet trousers.
The autobiographical LP – written by Dev at the age of 19 and released at 22 – takes us on an emotional journey; from the touchingly frisky debut single Galaxy Of The Lost through the dark worlds of Midnight Surprise and Devil Tricks For A Bitch. I Could Have Done This Myself refers humorously to embarrassing memories of losing ones virginity, whilst Everyone I know is Listening to Crunk is probably the most lovably personal – a country love song updated for our trend-saturated times. The album closes on the soul searching of No Surprise (For Wendela), a song written for his mother. In truth, beauty has seldom been this vital.
Crammed to the rafters with profanity and persuasion.
’Wake up and smell the semen’. Invites seldom come as sweet, nor as salty, as this.
‘FALLING OFF THE LAVENDER BRIDGE’ Released 21/01/08