Time to hear the Irish trio of Two Door Cinema Club like you’ve never heard them before – uncommercial.

Gameshow’s leading track ‘Are We Ready?’ sets the theme for this change of style, through the inclusion of (Wreck) in its title.  This seems a giant stab in the back of the consumerism that previously looked like the band’s best friend. Tracks from previous albums have been used in the rom-com Chalet Girl, Vodafone’s TV advert and FIFA 11’s soundtrack, but this album was sparked by the embers of those toxic relationships.  July saw the band embark on their best tour yet, a much needed hiatus mentally and physically, prior to dropping their third studio album this autumn.

Producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee fuses vocalist Alex Trimble’s strongest influences, Prince and Bowie, with inspiration from his previous work with Bloc Party.  The catchy, shimmy-begging beats and keyboard could easily be mistaken for an ‘80s throwback album, but Trimble’s conflicting and often intense lyrics reveal a genuine intent to avert the pressures of their previous successes.  ‘Bad Decisions’ offers forward-thinking music and lyrics, as Trimble pensively grumbles of social media over techno. Elsewhere, ‘Ordinary’ displays an unforgettably disturbing chorus with a rocky twang.

There is a compromise in this end result – a loss of the upbeat guitar riffs and predictable “ooos” and “aaas” we’ve come to expect from previous albums.  And yes, for fans who have pined for more of the same, Gameshow will be somewhat underwhelming.  But Two Door Cinema Club have grown up, they’ve got something to say, and they really don’t care about being infectious.

Kitty Pandya