The Temper Trap

Thu 11th Jun, 2009 in Features

In an age where so much is euphemised, honesty seems a rare commodity. Speaking to Dougie from the Temper Trap about the band’s upcoming album Conditions, his certainty and candour is disarming.

I had made some assumptions about the band’s much-anticipated debut album Conditions, based the Sweet Disposition EP and The Science of Fear single. Fair enough right? Not really, according to the frontman. “There was a bit of contention between the band as to which single to put out first, because we were trying to figure out which one would represent the sound of the record as a whole. And at the end of the day, we just thought none of them do.”

At one end of the spectrum is Love Lost, with its soul and funk hues; while at the other is Down River, which opens with acoustic guitar and climaxes with an orchestra. Dougie’s crisp choir-boy falsetto is front and centre throughout the album. Conditions was produced by Jim Abiss, who has overseen efforts from Massive Attack and Arctic Monkeys amongst others. “One of the things [Abiss] was really good at was knowing when we’ve done the take,” Dougie enthuses. “We’d play a song 10-15 times and they would all sound the same to us, but he just knows when we’ve given the song a life.”

On listening to the record, it’s clear Abiss has not sought to make the album in his likeness. Instead, he captures the tracks simply and allows them to stand on their own merits. That’s not to say the occasional – œcreative difference’ didn’t pop up between the band and producer. Thankfully, the Temper Trap boys were not intimidated. “We argued about it,” Dougie concedes. “Like most things, we argued about it until someone goes, – œAh, I can’t be fucked arguing any more’.”

The Temper Trap lads have certainly been busy of late. In March, they made a hugely successful trip to Texas for the South by Southwest conference, earning plaudits from all the right people. SXSW’s official blogger Linda Park even told FasterLouder: “Everyone’s talking about The Temper Trap.”

Their international tour schedule in the months ahead includes slots at festival goliaths like T In The Park, Lovebox, Electric Picnic and Japan’s Summer Sonic. Not bad going for a group still awaiting the release of its first album. So, is this everything the guys hoped it would be?

“Yeah, definitely,” says the frontman. “We’re an ambitious group of people and we all have been from the beginning. Along the way we’ve dared to dream bigger. We’ve always been serious about this and wanted to go overseas and tour the world.” Sadly, due to their flurry of overseas gigs, we won’t be seeing The Temper Trap back down under until our summer. Expect their star to be well and truly risen by then.

Temper Trap’s Conditions is released Friday 19 June.