With so much identikit indie around, it's difficult to stand out from the crowd. Two Door Cinema Club certainly try, with their electro inflections amongst rhythmic beats, jangling guitars, buoyant melodies and general upbeat tone. Handshake chugs along nicely, Settle begins as a lilting waltz soon added to with jittering drums, and the "I want you with me" chorus of The World Is Watching adds a feminine touch with vocals from London-based Valentina.
But it's not enough. It's difficult to pinpoint standout moments of 'Beacon' as it all blurs together into one. Nothing here lives up to the band's top tracks from debut album, 2010's 'Tourist History', such as Something Good Can Work, What You Know or Undercover Martyn that featured catchy pop hooks to form a memorable album. 'Beacon', by comparison simply isn't as good. The lyrics don't help, the title track's "take the deep end and swim so you can stand, cause it will make a difference in the end" being a clear offender.
It's also not enough to differentiate the band from others. Bombay Bicycle Club are an obvious parallel, both frontmen having similar voices, though the boys from Crouch End are more exciting than their Irish Cinema Club counterparts. There's also similarity with the likes of The Killers and The Vaccines, the latter of which also released an album this week and battled to reach top position. That's a sad fact as 'Beacon' is an infinitely better album than The Vaccine's boring drivel, but, devoid of the spark of their debut, Two Door Cinema Club just haven't done enough to rise above the competition.
2/5
Gizzle's Choice:
* Handshake
* Settle
Listen: 'Beacon' is available now.
