The Ting Tings: 'Sounds From Nowheresville' - Album review

That difficult second album. Few have had it harder than The Ting Tings, who chickened out and binned over half their follow-up to 2008's We Started Nothing and went on the lamb from their label across Europe. Listening to what they eventually turned out with, it's difficult not to think that they only made things more tricky for themselves than necessary.

Lead single 'Hang It Up' and bouncy synth-pop numbers 'Soul Killing' and 'One By One' are impressive flashes of the raw spontaneity heard on their debut, but all too often things fail to get off the ground; particularly on the grating punk-rap number 'Guggenheim' and wobbly guitar ballad 'In Your Life'.

The hotchpotch of genres - which they insist was intentional on their part to create a "playlist" feel - seems more like clever PRing for the album's lack of cohesion; it switches from ballsy and colourful pop to light R&B in a heartbeat. Rather than creating the carefree and playful atmosphere they claim, the result sounds like a problematic record that they never quite managed to master.

Tracks to download: 'Hang It Up', 'Soul Killing', 'One By One'
If you like this, you'll like: Ladyhawke, La Roux, Little Boots

Watch the 'Hang It Up' music video below: