Album Review: Two Door Cinema Club, Keep On Smiling

A lot has changed in the world since this writer first started chronicling the adventures of Two Door Cinema Club 15 years ago. One thing thankfully remains, though, and that’s the Bangor trio’s brilliance at crafting fiendishly catchy, super-slick slices of indie-pop. What’s more, their fifth album is one of their very best. Serving as something of a riposte to their Choice-winning 2010 debut Tourist History, Keep On Smiling is every bit the sonic tonic we’d hoped for.

Driven by an aim to dance away the heartache, the record is crammed with meticulously assembled floor-fillers. Tipping a cap to the likes of long-time inspiration Prefab Sprout (‘Everybody’s Cool’) and Young Turks-era Rod Stewart (‘Lucky’), this is truly inspired stuff. In particular, the Prince-meets-En Vogue effort ‘Little Piggy’ is a standout. A track the Purple One might have made if he grew up in Pickie Park instead of Paisley Park, the guitar solo is outrageous.

Elsewhere, ‘Wonderful Life’ is relentlessly catchy and feels like an anthem in the making, while the funk-fuelled ‘Feeling Strange’ could make even the most dedicated introvert shake a hip.

9/10