I’m not usually a fan of press release blurbs – often it’s just some fancy-Dan who has swallowed a thesaurus lifting adjectives and puns to make even the most boring of records seem interesting. However, Temper Temper‘s mini-bio which accompanied this CD is actually pretty spot on. I mean there is the superfluous crap that makes it stick out a little more than it should, but it also allows me to regurgitate it in full here to save myself five minutes by writing the exact same thing in different words:
“Milwaukee’s Temper Temper have arrived on the scene and they’ve brought the party with them! Meshing the dance punk vibes of The Rapture with the musical skill of Interpol and adding a dash of Danzig to the mix, Temper Temper‘s self-titled debut is the perfect soundtrack to a party celebrating the darker things in life. Part sleazy bordello, part cocaine disco, Temper Temper will get even the biggest wall-flowers in the room moving their hips.”
2005 is quickly becoming the year of the synth with every man and his dog seemingly throwing in the instrument to create a nu-wave 80s sound that sends us oldies back to the days of Tears for Fears and Duran Duran. Temper Temper aren’t quite as poppy as those bands, but I bet they’re classed as influences. Fans of the recent Action Action record (coincidence that both bands have names which repeat each other?) will really enjoy this, as ‘Trust Me I’m a Wild Bitch’ swirls in a sea of keys and bass guitar. ‘Delicate Pimp’ and ‘Trainwreck Flare’ are pretty good songs too and while they’re unlikely to make you dance in the same way the synth stylings of say Hellogoodbye, there’s enough groove here to make your foot tap.
Not an essential purchase by any means, but Temper Temper are certainly better than the likes of The Bravery and the other dross currently peddling electronic influences. As I mentioned before, this record will appeal to those who enjoyed the Action Action release, or fancy something a hell of a lot darker than The Reunion Show, then this may be worth checking out.
Revelation Records
Paul