The Temper Trap - The Temper Trap

Chances are, when you think of The Temper Trap, one song immediately springs to mind - love it or hate it, 'Sweet Disposition' became almost unavoidable thanks to its appearance in the 2009 film 500 Days Of Summer, as well as its subsequent usage in various advertising campaigns. It's a bit of a shame really, as that one song's success did overshadow the fact that the band's debut album Conditions was actually pretty good. Regardless, they now present us with a second effort that's simply entitled The Temper Trap - self-titled in an effort to throw the potential millstone of 'Sweet Disposition' from around their neck, perhaps?

They almost succeed immediately with opening gambit 'Need Your Love', which stakes its claim with its chart-bothering synth riff, skyscraping guitars, boundless positivity and simple but undeniably infectious chorus. Unfortunately, the band then fall flat on their face with 'London's Burning' - a track which starts out with the voice of a plasma-toting rioter, before continuing with the heavy-handed imagery via its faux-punk, shouty chorus and samples of David Cameron. Follow-up 'Trembling Hands' doesn't do much to improve matters - it's essentially the most overwhelming, bombastic slow-dance number you're likely to hear all year.

As luck would have it, 'The Sea Is Calling' sees the band finding some sort of solid footing again, built on a tasteful acoustic riff with some XX-style guitar work in the chorus for good measure - it's a good example of what the band can achieve when they rein things in a little. 'Miracle' is a further improvement, its minimal arrangement allowing Dougie Mandagi's falsetto vocals to really soar atop a bed of twinkly synths.

There's not much on here that really feels like a departure for the band, excepting 'Where Do We Go From Here', which occasionally threatens to devolve into a hideous George Micheal pastiche but ultimately comes out as a pretty fun post-disco anthem. For the most part then, it's business as usual, with the band offering up slices of reasonably atmospheric indie-rock. 'This Isn't Happiness' is incessant and melancholy, 'Never Again' channels a sense of menacing urgency, and 'Dreams' floats past serenely - they're all good enough songs, but none of them ever quite reaches transcendence.

There is, however, room for a moment of brilliance in 'Rabbit Hole', which starts out with little more than Mandagi's falsetto and a bruised acoustic guitar, before seamlessly bursting into widescreen glory. It's the type of well-executed, dynamic moment that the record could do with more of. To round things off, slow-burning torch-song 'I'm Gonna Wait' provides a dose of stately, heartfelt sentiment, while 'Leaving The Heartbreak Hotel's downbeat atmosphere sees the record come to a strong yet understated close.

Given The Temper Trap's history of having songs appear in films, TV programs and advertisements, it's not difficult to imagine situations where these songs would be a perfect fit. 'London's Burning' could be used in a documentary about the riots or an edgy marketing campaign, 'Rabbit Hole' seems taylor-made as the backdrop to a climactic moment of triumph or defiance, and 'Need Your Love' is surely destined for the soundtrack of a feelgood romantic comedy. But if you put such cynicism aside and accept the fact there isn't a 'Sweet Disposition (Part 2)' among these songs, The Temper Trap is a fairly solid second offering - I just can't escape the feeling that the band might need to up their game a little to maintain interest when their next album comes around.