Review: The Temper Trap at Melkweg

Meeting at 8.30 I thought would give us plenty of time to see the start of Silversun Pickup's Australian support The Temper Trap however when we got there they'd already started.
A great band who've made their mark on the Australian indie scene already and are now sifting through the shit of cracking the UK and Europe, The Temper Trap can create a rather large sonic boom given the chance. However being the support act I couldn't help but feel Silversun Pickup's sound guy had turned them down a wee bit, especially once Brian Aubert's guitars began to wail… But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Thankfully, as it turned out, we still caught the majority of their set, a set that was filled with lots of new material and slight directional change since we last saw them.

Conditions
The essence of their original sound still remains, from Dougy's falcetto to Lorenzo's guitar noodling, the chugging bass and jagged dancing of Toby and Jonathon's solid drumming backbone but an additional keyboardist/guitarist adds the expansive sonic breadth that no doubt came from time in the studio with Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, UNKLE). That time produced debut album Conditions, released this week in Australia but won't be out in Europe or the UK until August.
Beyond the jagged post punk indie they began at, their journey has taken them into a much more layered territory, when experimental cues of Tv on The Radio or Mogwai, when commercial - Bloc Party or early U2 - but you get the picture. They're aiming for a big sound, but let's not call it 'stadium' just yet. Speaking to Lorenzo after the show he said it was moving 'maybe a bit dancy'. Not a rock guitarist's favourite realisation. However, on lead single, 'Sweet Disposition' you hear Lorenzo invoking hook-God, Edge's echoing guitar work that brings about that big sound. 'Down River' sounds like a Dappled Cities tune while 'Fader', that live draws a sing-a-long and handclap over heads, is pure pop.
Possibly playing their album right through, celebrating the fact it went on sale in Australia early that day, both show and record build moment towards the end. 'Resurrection' rises from Dougy's ethereal falsetto into a balls-out wall of sound, all instruments forming the barricade while 'Science of Fear' comes out with the melodic live dance of New Order. Last track of the album (unless you score bonus track 'Hearts') is Instrumental 'Drum Song'. It's one of the few I recall from their early live shows. Beginning aptly with a concussive percussion by Jonathon and Dougy on an extra floor tom, echoey Gang Of Four-like guitar chimes in before long it's a thundering maelstrom.
The crowd, here to see Silversun Pickups seem suitably blown away. After the show, Girlfriend Liz overhears a local say to his friend that Brian Aubert (Green?) and co. better watch out or they'll be opening for Temper Trap next time 'round. My friend Aris thought they were, as usual 'bloody amazing'.

Temper Trap mySpace

Sixer gets all the gigs

My friend Bobby Six is a journo down in Australia, and while Amsterdam seems to be going through a winter dry spell (excluding the up'coming Of Montreal/Casiokids show), Sydney is awash with gigs, with more rock stars than you can poke a drumstick at.
Between all the New Years Eve parties, the Sydney Festival, Public Enemy and the Days Like This festival, the massive Big Day Out about to kick off, the Nick Cave curated ATP this weekend, it's a musical feast Down Under.

Over at bobbysix.com the Sixer has reviewed the recent Franz Ferdinand show with support by Red Riders and The Temper Trap, a Melbourne band with hype worth it's while. It seems too, that the Glaswegians are back on track.
And he makes me incredibly jealous with a review of the Dr Dog, Ash Grunwald, Gomez and Black Keys show at Luna Park... That's right, Gomez and Black Keys on the one stage – I'd give the Def Leppard drummer's right arm to see that gig. Anyway... have a read. I'll be praying the Pinkpop line up improves – can't say I'm beside myself for Depeche Mode, Placebo or The Kooks, well maybe for Depeche Mode – while hoping the Lowlands line up will be something to rub in those Aussie drongos' collective noses.