The Ting Tings – Sounds from Nowheresville

With their first album We Started Nothing reaching number one in the charts, can The Ting Tings’ follow up Sounds from Nowheresville possibly do the same?

Jules de Martino and Katie White who formed the band in 2007, have jumped back on to the indie pop music scene with their heavily awaited second album. There are quite big expectations from the duo as one of their previous hits That’s Not My Name, did extremely well making the number one spot in the UK chart.

Known for their simple indie beats and catchy pop lyrics, there is a lot of excitement as to whether this will be of the same high calibre, or if they have evolved their sound and turned it into something entirely brand new and fresh.

Listening to Silence, you can tell straight away that music icons of yesteryear have left their influential stamp on the pair, with a New Order vibe on this tune to a Madness feel on Soul Killing.

The lyrics still manage to get easily inside your head with the choruses definitely there to belt out a note to. Although you can’t help but wonder if the duo, in trying so hard to sound like their influences, have totally lost what it was they were trying to achieve.

The majority of the album being very upbeat and vibrant even has Jules taking centre stage on Give It Back with some solo verses which is surprising, to say the least.

Whereas slower songs like Day To Day and In Your Life lack the emotional wow factor to invoke a reaction within. It’s almost as if Katie is trying so hard to portray certain feelings that she actually loses the effect altogether and doesn’t deliver the impact required.

There is no doubt that this album caters for every musical taste – from hip hop to electro, from ska to pop. There is a little something for every music lover but this compilation of sounds suffers from way too much variety.

The switch between songs is so erratic and flighty that it leaves you confused as to where you are going next. If music could have an identity crisis this album would be the result. Which bodes the question: potential grower or the potential to be forgotten?

Let’s hope it doesn’t end up on a one-way journey to Nowheresville.

Verdict: ••

Natalie Sexby

 

Listen to Soul Killing here