Kitsuné have always embraced pop music of all descriptions, so when Irish trio Two Door Cinema Club joined their ranks in 2010 with their debut album Tourist History, it was no surprise that it was an album of sparkly electronic-tinged pop. Since then TDCC have tasted success, touring the record worldwide to adoring fans, picked up a few awards, and been gifted the ‘critic favourite’ tag. Now, the ‘difficult second album’ Beacon is upon us.
The album starts out with Next Year which is a song about lost and ‘realised’ love, setting the tone for the album, both in style and lyrical content. Handshake and Wake Up are very reminiscent of mid-noughties British indie-pop a la Arctic Monkeys and The Cribs. The latter has a soaring chorus which borders on cringey, and three songs in, there is an almost identical structure to the songs which make them all pass by rather forgettably. Sun changes things somewhat. The lyrics are a bit cliché, but it has a layered vocal section which sounds like vintage ‘70s American-rock, in a good way. Things improve on the more dynamic Someday, and ‘coolest guitar hook of the album’ winner The World Is Watching, featuring Valentine. The guest vocal adds another dimension which is maybe missing from the other songs.
Settle and Spring are on the bland side, and fail to push any buttons, but Pyramid takes a bite out of Foals, and this brings the attention back with it’s off-kilter guitar swirls, percussion and horn section. The title track closes the deal, a laid-back number which includes the vocal “I’m coming home.” The meaning of the album title is revealed.
In the words of Two Door Cinema Club themselves, “Beacon is much more intimate than our first, but at the same time, it’s bigger and more inclusive.”
Beacon is ultimately a tad underwhelming, and although there are ‘moments’, it seems the intimacy TDCC speak of, may have taken the edge off.
BY SCOTT NICOLSON
Best Track: The World Is Watching
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not ARCTIC MONKEYS, Mine Is Yours COLD WAR KIDS, The New Fella THE CRIBS
In A Word: Inoffensive
