The Temper Trap Will Make You Tremble With Wonder

Thus far it's been a rewarding ride with Australia's The Temper Trap. These guys are one of a select group of music makers who truly understand the format's possibilities. "Trembling Hands" is the latest cut lifted from their self-titled new album and music fanatics such as myself are all the better for it. Hauntingly lovely from the word go, you get a clear picture of how tough it is to latch on to firm footing in a big city where so many faceless millions dart here and there, on their way to somewhere and nowhere at the same time. Full credit goes to keyboardist Lorenzo Stillito for supplying the fragility which figures to make the song one of the more indelible nuggets to meander its way into rock radio rotation in recent years. To my mind, whether he's bouncing his voice off the walls of deep space as demonstrated in "Sweet Disposition", or lifting himself up from the ashes of city rubble to attempt a focused cry for help as he does in this song, Dougy Mandagi is a front man who has yet in his career to even know the meaning of the word "limitation". He's become adept at getting the most out of the material he's been provided with. Although Summer 2012 probably will be crowded with scads more radio-saturated efforts, "Trembling Hands" deserves to, at the very least, leave the season being remembered as one of its unsung delights.