The Temper Trap
Words by Jonathan Fernando
Last year I acquired a love for Australian music, the one major country which had gone largely unexplored in my media library, musically speaking. In my naivety I was expecting a plethora of didgeridoo-based LP’s or Rolf Harris ‘Greatest Hits’ to top the nation’s album chart list.
However, I was surprised to come across a host of artists who would change my whole perception of music from the land down under. I’m talking of the ultra-cool Cut/Copy, The Presets, Sneaky Sound System and the recently reviewed, Empire of the Sun. As the aforementioned were all pigeon-holed into the dance/electro category, I was glad to pick up on the indie kids on the block, The Temper Trap, an outfit who have steamrolled into the conscious of the genre’s demanding followers – slowly, yet progressively.
Breaking through the ranks in their hometown of Melbourne, the band managed to make a name for themselves after completing the festival circuit back in 2006. They produced an introductory, self-titled EP that provided a mere glimpse of their potential. The nifty little sampler was by no means meant to win awards, but it did grind out an all-too-familiar-massed-produced ‘sound’. But since then, The Temper Trap have really managed to craft their production and now have a selection of outstanding tracks that have embraced the elements that they were lacking previously.
Doug Mandagi leads brilliantly from the front line by attempting to pull at your heart strings with some truly mesmerising vocals. His almost choir-like singing on ‘Sweet Disposition’, which is already excellent instrumentally, is infectious to the vocal chords, causing you to involuntarily hum along (until you learn the words, that is). The addictive love song featured on the recent Joseph Gordon-Levitt trailer, 500 Days of Summer, and has already given them a new fanbase, particularly in the US, and has helped to build momentum towards their summer album release.
Their upcoming single, ‘Science of Fear’, which is due out in late April, is in complete contrast to the previous track and heads up towards a more frantic and rockier clime, proving that The Temper Trap aren’t simply one-trick ponies, but more multifaceted stallions, if you will. The single has also received a cooler-than-cool remix from D&B maestro and Radio1 favourite, Mistabishi, which will no doubt aim to hoard further fans of the Aussie quartet.
The amalgamation of hugely infectious guitar riffs and rhythmic drums, from the support of fellow members Johnny, Lorenzo and Toby, mixed with the cracking voice of Mandagi’s is pretty much a sure fire winner. But realistically, although they are super-talented, they won’t become an overnight success.... but hey, neither was Rolf.
Posted Tue, March 24, 2009