The Temper Trap - 'Conditions' (Infectious) Released 10/08/09

Australian music hasn’t exactly been on top of late either. Jet have slid in to mediocrity and Wolfmother have been torn apart by in-fighting which has left just one original member left. So it seems its time for a new hero from down under and the Temper Trap are the latest musicians to lead the Aussie fight back.

 

The good news is that on the basis of their debut album ‘Conditions’, the Temper Trap are more than capable of matching the hype that has been laid before them. In fact the hype appears to have undersold them.

 

‘Love Lost’ is the perfect opening – laden with keyboards and bass and allowing Dougy Mandagi’s superlative vocals to take centre stage. “Our love was lost, but now it’s found,” blasts out over a giant chorus and our appetite is sufficiently wet.

 

‘Rest’ and ‘Down River’ offer plenty for the pop enthusiast with more than a hint of Arcade Fire, especially in the latter. ‘Drum Song’ pays testament to the rhythmic jamming which pops up throughout, evoking a spirit of spontaneity rather than the tired old formula.

 

‘Soldier On’ is a complex 6 minute epic which goes from the opening lows (“all that is gold is rusted”) to the heady finale with a guitar solo which polishes off the rollercoaster of emotion beforehand.

 

Of course we cannot forget the lead single ‘Sweet Disposition’ – a gentle yet wonderfully atmospheric piece of pop music. Mandagi once again shines in the refrain “A moment of love, a dream, a lie, a kiss, a cry, our rights, our wrongs”.

 

When you put it all together you have a dazzling array of tracks melded together by the same mesmeric drumming and inspired vocal control. They’ve borrowed the best bits of the Arcade Fire, Fleetwood Mac and Coldplay and produced an album of stunning quality. You just can’t keep those Aussies down.