Life is Sweet. Nice to Meet You
Domino***

Devonté Hynes's days as a Test Icicle seem aeons away, but it was less than five years ago that the 24-year-old Essex-via-Texas lad was concocting questionable dance-punk tunes with his cohorts. His solo material is, thankfully, far removed from that scene, as was proved on his quietly charming 2008 debut, produced by Mike Mogis. Its optimistically titled successor is less folk-oriented without the Saddle Creek man's input, but it's just as genial. Madame van Dammeis an undoubted highlight, its old-time jukebox-pop throb befitting a drive-in movie theatre, while Marlene's firm beat propels its string-infused melody forward agreeably. If there's one quibble, it's that several songs seem to gather pace before receding, their stop- start thrust making it difficult to fully engage. Still, a minor quibble about an affable album. www.light speedchampion.com

Download tracks: Madame van Damme, Marlene