Single Review: The Temper Trap – Need Your Love
On previous tours (see our coverage of their September 2010 shows in Philadelphia and Boston), Australian indie rockers the Temper Trap have already given us a sample of their self titled sophomore effort with ‘Rabbit Hole’. That song was really more of the same in my opinion, complete with falsetto and melodic build.
But we get to hear a little more of a change in direction with ‘Need Your Love’. The first single from the new album is much more dynamic than previous offerings from the band. Cashing in on the current upswing of ’80s music, the Temper Trap have infused this track with a healthy dose of synths and strong drums. From the fuzzy keys opening the song to the classic 80s guitar over a driving beat, ‘Need Your Love’ sounds both fresh and familiar. Much less dreamy than the songs from ‘Condition’, this track highlights the more powerful range of lead singer Dougy Mandagi. He seems to be much more in control of his vocals and prepared to sing with enough strength to get proper attention, “I am a war of flesh and heart that’s left undone / between the person that I was and have become.”
This is a welcomed deeper, darker edge to their music, perhaps attributable to the addition of fifth member multi-instrumentalist Joseph Greer to the line-up after four years as a touring member. There is also a decided progression through the song that was not as evident in the breezy tracks of previous album.
7.5/10
The ‘Need Your Love’ single by the Temper Trap will be released on the 7th of May, and their self-titled album will follow on the 21st of May on Infectious/PIAS. After seven sold out dates in North America last month, the Temper Trap will play a series of dates in the UK in May – details here.
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