Wow! There are so many Australian bands coming to the fore these days. The Temper Trap is another group hailing from down under and they’ve made quite an impact on the world of alternative pop music with this their debut studio album. The music itself is fairly stock radio alt-rock/post-punk albeit well put together but its Dougy Mandagi’s lead vox that really seals the deal. This is mass-appeal indie music – the kind that Coldplay and Kings of Leon fans are going to salivate over and quite rightly so as Conditions hits all the right notes, pleases all the right senses and is instantly likeable without feeling contrived. Sweet Disposition, their first single – and receiving fair airplay and TV time is the kind of song that appeals instantly. This all of course if you like Mandagi’s unique voice, but it’s what separates The Temper Trap from just another post-punk indie outfit. He is blessed with a truly magnificent voice that can make the simple words “ooh baby,” on my fave track, Rest sound like something magnificent. If they can sustain this level of songwriting, these guys are gonna be huge!
Rating : Rocking
Reviewed By : Jon Anderson
