The Ting Tings (CD)
Both members of the The Ting Tings have travelled bumpy roads to achieve their current success.
Before forming the British indie band two years ago, vocalist Katie White sang in two unsigned girl bands. The other 'Ting', 35-year-old Jules De Martino, was a little-known musician, drifting in and out of showbiz for more than two decades and releasing a handful of singles.
So it was a very welcome result when both the band's first single That's Not My Name and debut album We Started Nothing shot straight to No 1 in the UK charts last month. White's glamorous looks probably helped boost sales.
The single is a catchy tune, especially compared to the long and cynical lyrics, and funky and unpredictable works of fellow indie stars Arctic Monkeys.
The opening track Great DJ follows a similar formula to That's Not My Name - simple chords, strong rhythms and repeated phrases. But Fruit Machine announces a run of monotonous predictability. The two soft-rock tracks Traffic Light and Be The One distinguish themselves slightly different, but also highlight White's less-than-impressive vocals. Her falsetto on the last track We Started Nothing only further exposes her.
