After the Temper Trap's breakthrough debut album 'Conditions' immensely high hopes have been developed for their self titled follow up. All of the staples established on 'Conditions' still remain here, lead singer Dougy Mandagi's ever present falsetto is all throughout here and so are the depressing lyrics about all kinds of heartbreak. The album opens with the somewhat happy 'Need Your Love' and continues onto one of the records more ambitious tracks 'London's Burning' which samples various news reports about the recent London riots, the track succeeds a little but just gets a bit stale towards the end. Guitar solos are less common here as the album seems to nod a lot to 80's synths and culture, although on 'Dreams' and the epic 'Rabbit Hole' Lorenzo Sillito's guitar playing is used to very good effect. Album highlights here include the aforementioned 'Rabbit Hole', 'This Isn't Happiness' and 'Trembling Hands' which nearly succeeds in recreating stunning feel of breakthrough hit 'Sweet Disposition'. Some of the lesser songs include 'The Sea Is Waiting', 'Where Do We Go From Here' and 'I'm Gonna Wait' which are all just rather dull. Although the Temper Trap do have a more mature sound here, it is hard to know whether that is for the better or not and it will be interesting to see where they go next. There is some good stuff here if you dig for it, but generic lyrics and meaningless filler bring this album down.
6/10
Tomm
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