Temper Trap bid for the big time

With their debut album Conditions finally out the Australian indie-rockers make no secret of their lofty aspirations.

The Temper Trap release debut album Conditions this week

Dougy Mandagi is making excuses…

"Plus, when you play stages or bigger rooms the PAs are just that much better, you know? You get the full effect on stage as well."

It's his sheepish answer to the question being posed most regularly by those who've followed the ascent of the band he fronts - isn't it a matter of when, and not if, they'll be playing huge venues?

There is, you see, something inevitable about The Temper Trap. Inevitably successful.

A band evolved

Backtracking for a second, The Temper Trap are already a different band to the one which supported Franz Ferdinand back home in Australia last Christmas and shuffled on to a London stage for their first UK gigs in the early Spring.

More relaxed, less nervy and, bluntly put, much better having sharpened their tools playing a raft of British summer festivals.

"I get a lot more nervous playing the smaller crowds," reasons Mandagi. "The smaller the crowds the more nervous I get - which is strange."

Translated, that means, 'I'm more comfortable playing to massive crowds who worship at my feet', and that's something the band are getting used to very quickly.

"That's where we excel, live," he says. "Hopefully if people are kind of sitting on the fence as far as our record goes hopefully they'll go see us live one day and help them make up their mind."

Modest

It's an underplayed confidence which runs through the band's music and message.

Conditions, released this week and recorded in the majority in Melbourne with super producer Jim Abbiss, is a huge pop statement reminiscent of U2, Snow Patrol and Doves.

"I'm a little bit anxious but I'm trying not to put too much expectation on anything. It's our debut record. I'm not trying to think of it in terms of figures.

"I hope it goes well, but if it doesn't, that's cool."

Right now, with appearences at Reading and Leeds festivals scheduled and an October UK tour booked, all in Camp Temper Trap seems extremely rosy.

However, the same as any other incessantly touring band, things have become a little claustrophobic in the tour bus.

"I always need some downtime," laughs Mandagi. "I'll just go on a walkabout and disappear somewhere and lock myself in the toilet and do vocal warm ups for half an hour so I don't have to see the guys."

Conditions is out now