Aug 07 2009 1:06 pm,
The Temper Trap
‘Conditions’
(Infectious)
Great music doesn’t depend on great diction, so it doesn’t matter one jot that it’s a mission to make out one word that comes out of Temper Trap frontman Dougy Mandagi’s mouth on their stirring, inspirational debut. His skyscraping falsetto - he could sing about watering the garden and make your heart melt - lends ‘Conditions’’ epic indie-pop gems an ethereal otherworldliness. It’s clear from the expansive opening of ‘Love Lost’ that the Aussie four-piece lack nothing in ambition, but they have the songs to match up to it; ‘Sweet Disposition’ resembles U2 planting a Joshua Tree in Sigur Ros’ glacial backyard, ‘Fader’ careens on an effortless, Killers-esque groove, whilst ‘Rest’ is an artpop lullaby, Mandagi’s voice as heartbreakingly croonful as Jeff Buckley. A special debut from a special band - ignore them at your peril.
Niall Doherty
