It seems a long time since ‘Sweet Disposition’ catapulted The Temper Trap onto the world stage. Coming off their debut album Conditions, the song would see the band tour the world, including appearances at Glastonbury and Coachella, as well as stadium supports for the likes of Coldplay and The Rolling Stones.
Eight years later and the band are preparing to release their third album. Thick As Thieves has been a long time in the making, with pre-production beginning back in 2013 whilst still touring their second record. Not long after, guitarist and founding member Lorenzo Sillitto decided it was time to leave the group. Whilst the departure was amicable, it did leave the band with one less guitarist, and importantly, one less songwriter.
Recording Thick As Thieves was a sporadic process, taking over three years in four different countries and utilising five different producers. With the departure of Sillitto, the band for the first time enlisted outside help during the writing process, using the considerable talents of producer’s Malay (Frank Ocean), Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Sia), Ben Allen (Bombay Bicycle Club, Deerhunter) and Pascal Gabriel (Ladyhawke, Goldfrapp). Gabriel would be the main producer, and contributer, appearing on three tracks a co-writer, including the title track.
The 11 song album sees a conscious return to an earlier Temper Trap sound, rather than the more experimental moments from their sophomore effort. Whilst the band did not want to recreate Conditions, an effort was made to return to a more organic sound.
Drummer Toby Dundas explains “Even though we – and some of our fans – were super-excited about a lot of those songs (off the second album), the wider world perhaps didn’t get that coming from us. And if a few things don’t necessarily work, it focuses you more on what your strengths are. It’s a much more kind of up-tempo record than the second record, it’s got a lot more energy.”
[include_post id=”478738″]And energy it does have, from start to end. The album is upbeat and full of stadium ready tracks with all the right guitar hooks, with plenty of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ ripe for a sing-along. The four on the floor beat propels the guitar laden and anthemic title track, whilst ‘So Much Sky’ and ‘Burn’ continue the theme, drums and bass providing unescapable momentum behind the U2 (via Coldplay) inspired melodic guitar lines. Singer Dougy Mandagi’s powerful and unmistakeable vocals are at the forefront, his trademark falsetto used sparingly but effectively.
‘Alive’ is immediately a standout, the multiple layers added over a fantastic driving bass line in the verses. In the chorus Mandagi sings “Feels so good, feels good to be alive,” the positive and uplifting sentiment a common theme throughout the record.
‘Summer’s Almost Gone’ provides some diversity, starting of low and slow with just keys and vocals. Musically and lyrically darker, Mandagi repeats “Summer’s almost gone, you’re not coming home, I’m still left alone.” A synth heavy outro one of the few electronic moments on the album.
Final track ‘Ordinary World’ is one of the albums finest moments. Slower in tempo, the guitar is prominent and heavier, giving the chorus a real punch whilst Mandagi stretches his vocal range. The Led Zeppelin inspired bridge allows the band to let loose, right before an unexpected and abrupt end, closing the album with “All is quiet, down by the old sugar mill, I’m the last one still standing here.”
Overall, Thick As Thieves is a great album. ‘Alive’ is fantastic; ‘Summer’s Almost Gone’ and ‘Ordinary World’ provide variety, whilst ‘Tombstone’ is fondly reminiscent of early Coldplay (but with a great vocalist).
Unfortunately, it will take a dedicated listener to reach these songs, as they are all on the second half of the album. Up until track six, there is a worrying similarity in the bands’ formula. Driving bass and drums propel the song into a big catchy chorus, another driving verse, another chorus, bridge into double chorus to end.
In fairness, 90% of all songs ever written follow that structure, but usually with enough variety interspersed for it to not be too noticeable. The similarity in tempo and structure, along with a couple of chorus hooks not quite strong enough to hold up the song, mean that by the halfway point some listeners will find themselves a little restless. With a slight reshuffle of song order, this may have gone unnoticed.
At the very least, Thick As Thieves will be a reminder to those who loved Conditions how fantastic The Temper Trap can be. It is also contains enough hits that a whole new group of fans will soon arrive at the same conclusion.
