Who? Since disbanding chaotic dance punk outfit Test Icicles in 2006, Dev Hynes has transformed himself into a pop folkie touched by contemporary American alt-country, a.k.a. Lightspeed Champion. Having spent the spring touring with the likes of Bright Eyes and Patrick Wolf, Hynes issued the Galaxy of the Lost EP in mid-summer; dreamy full-length Falling Off the Lavender Bridge is slated for February via Domino Records.

What's the Deal? This Houston-born, Edinburgh-bred songster has crafted a songbook of lush, acoustic-driven pop melodies at the hands of some of Nebraska's Saddle Creek collective, including producer Mike Mogis, the Faint's Clark Baechle, and select members from both Tilly and the Wall and Cursive. Champion's polished, low-country tones summon the lovechild of somewhere between Bloc Party's Kele Okereke and Omaha's favorite son Conor Oberst. "Galaxy of the Lost" vividly drums into the heart and "The Flesh Failures" flawlessly fades into a hyper-harmonized chorus of "Let the Sunshine In" from Hair.

Fun Fact: Hynes is a self-professed fanatic of The OC. While recording his first batch of songs, he sought much of his inspiration as Lightspeed Champion thanks to his love for the California coup of teens and their everyday drama. 

Now Hear This:
Lightspeed Champion - "Galaxy of the Lost" STREAMING MP3

On the Web:
Lightspeed Champion at MySpace
lightspeedchampion.com

Talk: Is Lightspeed Champion in the lead or is he just 'lost?'