27th August 2012 06:00:00
Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon
Remember The Drums? 2010's next big thing if you were to believe most of the music industry, yet one other band quietly started their business that year and, over the past couple of years, have become unavoidable. Lead singer Alex Trimble even appeared in the Olympics opening ceremony and you can't get a much bigger stage than that. Now back with their second album, that band are aiming to continue their domination of the airwaves and Beacon suggests that Two Door Cinema Club are about to do exactly just that.
Why? Because, smartly, they haven't really changed anything; even Bloc Party might consider TDCC's use of pacy angular guitar riffs a tad excessive, given that each of the eleven tracks contains at least one. What they have done though is expand their soundscape somewhat: 'Sun' sprinkles some jazz into proceedings, while 'The World Is Watching' is practically a ballad, with some lovely guest vocals from Valentina. The title track closer even suggests that the trio have realised that every song doesn't have to stick to a conventional verse-chorus-verse structure. You won't feel the band have exactly progressed musically, but it's heartening to have a smidgen of variation from the blueprint from time to time.
It also helps that when they slip into the TDCC format, they do so with a self-assurance that was sometimes missing from their debut, an assurance that this is now their sound and not one cribbed from their various influences. Lead single 'Sleep Alone' is undeniably infectious and 'Pyramid' delivers the album's finest riff, one that's held back and sharply built into from a low-key opening. They're not necessarily tracks that will sway non-fans, but they do show a band that now seem firmly in control. Two Door Cinema Club know what they do, and they do it well.
Why? Because, smartly, they haven't really changed anything; even Bloc Party might consider TDCC's use of pacy angular guitar riffs a tad excessive, given that each of the eleven tracks contains at least one. What they have done though is expand their soundscape somewhat: 'Sun' sprinkles some jazz into proceedings, while 'The World Is Watching' is practically a ballad, with some lovely guest vocals from Valentina. The title track closer even suggests that the trio have realised that every song doesn't have to stick to a conventional verse-chorus-verse structure. You won't feel the band have exactly progressed musically, but it's heartening to have a smidgen of variation from the blueprint from time to time.
It also helps that when they slip into the TDCC format, they do so with a self-assurance that was sometimes missing from their debut, an assurance that this is now their sound and not one cribbed from their various influences. Lead single 'Sleep Alone' is undeniably infectious and 'Pyramid' delivers the album's finest riff, one that's held back and sharply built into from a low-key opening. They're not necessarily tracks that will sway non-fans, but they do show a band that now seem firmly in control. Two Door Cinema Club know what they do, and they do it well.
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Track List
1. Next Year
2. Handshake
3. Wake Up
4. Sun
5. Someday
6. Sleep Alone
2. Handshake
3. Wake Up
4. Sun
5. Someday
6. Sleep Alone
7. The World Is Watching (with Valentina)
8. Settle
9. Spring
10. Pyramid
11. Beacon
8. Settle
9. Spring
10. Pyramid
11. Beacon
-- more --
About Ian Sandwell
It's taken three years but I've finally gained power round these parts. Tremble in front of the might of the Assistant Editor. Generally focussed more on the indie side of affairs but for any of you PRs out there, note that I'm likely to go critically easier on quirky female singer-songwriters. But hey, we all have our weaknesses. Follow @ian_sandwell
It's taken three years but I've finally gained power round these parts. Tremble in front of the might of the Assistant Editor. Generally focussed more on the indie side of affairs but for any of you PRs out there, note that I'm likely to go critically easier on quirky female singer-songwriters. But hey, we all have our weaknesses. Follow @ian_sandwell
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