Tourist History

In this day and age, a record that defies you to spot what music its makers have been listening to is a rare beast - especially one that makes you dance and sing as well. Northern Ireland's Two Door Cinema Club are a music-mad trio and their debut album - fizzes with invention and sparkling tunes. It's undeniably pop, and it draws on electronica/electro, rock and Afro-beats without ever recalling hopeful dilettantes, but the sum is greater than any 'indie electro pop' parts. Their story begins with three 15-year olds at school in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Vocalist/ guitarist Alex Trimble and bassist Kevin Baird studied music together; guitarist Sam Halliday was a mate of Alex's. Gigs were quickly secured on the back of two songs (neither of which they play anymore) posted to Myspace, followed by a deal with Kitsun , the release of their debut single Something Good Can Work in March '09, and immediate support from radio (especially Radio 1's Steve Lamacq).The album simply multiplies the single's surfeit of ideas and sounds. Take the opening Cigarettes In The Theatre, which instantly nails the band's light-footed, but hard-driving, energy. It begins with an ambient rumble, then adds a niggling guitar (or it could be a synth) line, which develops a siren-like insistence over a nervy beat pattern before a telling pause and a newer, deliciously - almost deliriously - danceable song kicks in. From the Afro-pop lilt of Something Good Can Work (imagine Vampire Weekend with an acute pop sensibility) to the smooth/jittery combo of Eat That Up It's Good For You [about the rise of women emulating men's worst boozing-and-cruising habits: "that's me venting my anger, in a happy pop song," Alex grins), there are TDCC favourites all over the shop.