The Temper Trap - 'Sweet Disposition' - THE LATE REVIEW
Sometimes things just sneak up on you, and mug you when you're not looking.
When 'Sweet Disposition' came out at the beginning of August, I did listen to it, but I was either on holiday, or about to go on holiday, or mentally on holiday. There were other things going on at the time, bigger things, probably, and anyway, these fly-by-night new indie bands disappear as soon as they arrive, don't they? If they're worth a look, I'll catch up with them next time they've got a song out. No sense in making an undignified rush to the word-processor once it's climbed up the charts, is there? Why expose yourself to the scorn of the music world, why let them claim that you have no clue what you're doing? People will snigger, and we can't have that. Chin up, and best foot forward...
And since then? Well, it has slowly climbed up the Top 40, off the back of a lot of use on TV, and a lot of radio play. Every week, a newer, higher position, and the growing, niggling doubt that actually, the time might have come to show the band some love, even if it's sometimes hard to separate them from Friendly Fires and Passion Pit. It's an alliteration thing.
(. It's like Star Trek in a mirror.)
Musically, of course, they're a long way apart. Dougy Mandagi has a very singular throat. His falsetto squeaks and swoops are richer, warmer and prettier than those of, say, Mika, and he knows how to bend his melodies into pleading, urgent phrases, so that Temper Trap songs are all emotional and squishy.
And someone's having some fun with a delay pedal there, aren't they? Getting a bit of a chunter-unter-unter-ter-er-rrr going, twiddling the knobs and making it sound like several robot guitarists who can't quite keep together, all playing at once. Marvellous.
Of course, you'll already know this, because you were paying attention all along. You don't need me to come along to the party, late, holding a tiny bottle of fizzy mineral water and asking if there's any punch left. You just need to keep listening to the pretty music, without someone's dad barging in, dancing badly and pretending to have been following the band for ages, actually.
So, let's just say this is a belated tribute to a nice song getting the recognition it deserves. This week's chart will probably see it make another leap towards the Top 10, and if it does, a lot of people are going to be congratulating themselves that they knew it would happen all along.
And I will be sitting on the stairs, sulking a bit, but still pleased.
Download: Out now
CD Released: AGES AGO
91Èȱ¬ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 1st Oct 2009, spirit wrote:Thank you Fraser . Trust me , nobody who loves music on here will mind a late review when a song is this good ! Already one of my favourites of the year ! Well used in 500 days of summer . This is a magical feel good hit . There will be many others loving this song .
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Comment number 2.
At 1st Oct 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:I'll second that. One of my favourites of the year (no surprises there given my Delays obssession).
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Comment number 3.
At 2nd Oct 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Im sorry, 4 stars? No. 5.
Easily makes my top 5 of the year so far!
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Comment number 4.
At 2nd Oct 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Seeing as we're all loving pretty songs and pretty videos, what do you think of this? I rather love it...
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Comment number 5.
At 2nd Oct 2009, spirit wrote:This Temper trap song is truly wonderful . The bass and drums are very reminiscent of Where the streets have no name by U2 .
Uncanny.
Great vocal melody , and that magic carpet ride of a chorus , truly soars !
It's an uplifting song that will raise the profile of this band .
The album " CONDITIONS " is out now.
ps Liam , do you remember a while ago , me loving this song , but not knowing who it was , and you giving me the lowdown on it when I had mentioned some lyrics from it ? Bonus marks for you !
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Comment number 6.
At 2nd Oct 2009, spirit wrote:Another review that needs to happen.
Example - Watch the sun come up .
Already a top 20 hit , and a very good song !
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Comment number 7.
At 2nd Oct 2009, Sagna Is Predator wrote:Anyone heard their song 'Love Lost'? Really loving that right now!
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Comment number 8.
At 2nd Oct 2009, spirit wrote:What's your verdict on the album ? Is it a winner ?
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Comment number 9.
At 2nd Oct 2009, spirit wrote:You are right .
"Love lost " is a cool song !
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Comment number 10.
At 2nd Oct 2009, spirit wrote:Sweet disposition currently number 12 .
One of the big climbers on I-TUNES , an A list at RADIO 1 , blanket radio play , a great appeal , this song could well soon be a top 10 hit !
Fully deserved if it does !
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Comment number 11.
At 3rd Oct 2009, thranjax wrote:Fraser, Nice video, verges on Twee of course.
And there are no dead badgers in the verges on Twee.
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Comment number 12.
At 8th Oct 2009, spirit wrote:Temper trap in the top 10 at number 7 , superb !
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Comment number 13.
At 16th Oct 2009, charlieblue75 wrote:Fell in love with Sweet Dispostion after hearing it on tv advertising. Having since got the album Conditions i've bearly listened to anything else. There isn't a bad track on the album. The opening tracks of the album are Love Lost, Rest and Sweet Disposition which are truly wonderful. Temper Trap will be in my Ipod for quite some time.
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