The English Riviera

It was my new cousin Pip from England who introduced me to Metronomy. They are the type of band where you can honestly say they create a musical atmosphere you can really fall under the spell of. Sadly,especially in America,a lot of cultural negativity has somewhat kept the progress of pop music stilted for over a decade. Even during very anti dance music eras such as the early 80's (post disco years) and early 90's (alternative rock years) bands in Europe were still innovating in the dance,electronic and funk music other elements of the culture were rejected. With the advent of indie pop,they actually got what you might call a fighting chance to be...sometimes next to incredible. This multi sexual,multi racial band from Devon England are led by singer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist Joseph Mount. From the get go it's clear their sound was based in electronica. But one look into their history Mount has remixed songs for many people from the Gorillaz to Lady Gaga. So it's only appropriate on this,their debut album that something special was bound to happen.

The overall sound of this album is imaginative and dreamy. It's by no means slow and trippy either. The title track,something of an intro is a moody string based orchestral piece before going into "We Broke Free",a simple pop number with some...less than simple 80's new wave style synthesizer washes and "Everything Goes My Way". This song,sung by female singer/drummer AnnaPrior reminds me of a band called Papa's Frita's,a much earlier indie band who made some music that might've helped influenced Metronomy from the sound of things. "The Look" has this organ powered,spare rock and soul sound that is very poppy and somehow unique as well. "She Wants" adds a bit of a slow ska/funk flavor to it. Very much from the early Talking Heads/Police school but again more stripped down than either. "Trouble" brings a doo-wop type rhythm into play while "The Bay" showcases the disco/funk influence that is in the shadow somewhere on a lot of this album. "Loving Arm" has a sound where bubbling electronics combine to form different rhythmic patterns. A very compelling sound.

After the somewhat more pop/rock oritened "Corrine" the closers "Some Written and "Love Underlines" use the same idea of electronic sounds blended together to create spare,rhythmic epics that are less instrumentally theatrical than the Gorillaz but less musically dense. Joseph Mount is really onto something with Metronomy on this album. I haven't heard any of their older albums yet. On the other hand,speaking from this alone they have the potential to be musical innovators. I understand that in this day and age most music made primarily for the purposes of art is somewhat lodged in the underground. Where much commercial music is again encouraged to be very non experimental. This is not by any means universal law. But with Mount's connections to the pop world Metronomy are a band of a type that could easily be both musically potent and commercially successful. Anyway for a band I knew nothing about until a few weeks ago,they have my interest. And they also present a jumping off point (via Wikipedia and YouTube) for the musically curious to seek out others either involved or on a similar creative path. Something worth looking into.

Actually the best 2011's album. All songs incredible, very interesting and always proposing something new. Really loving Metronomy without knowing which is the best song.

Joseph Mount lynchpin behind Metronomy comes from Devon & presents that area as an "English" Riviera, a romantic destination where magic happens. The sound of seagulls opens & tracks build up through to 4th number 'The Look' which is brilliant (also a fab video)...melodic & original. 'She Wants' trundles along & keeps the mood going whilst the gentle 'Trouble' favours some light guitar before bouncing into life. 'The Bay' with its brill oriental start is perhaps referring to the Torquay coastal area but could apply to where ever you are at the time..."cause this isn't Paris, and this isn't London, & it's not Berlin, & it's not Hong Kong, not Tokyo". The album is a form of futuristic electronica indie pop though seems inspired by the sounds of the 60's in terms of melody & could imagine as a backdrop for 'Dr Who' or 'The Avengers'. The haunting 'Loving Arm' with some simplistic shifts creates a mood for the coast & cliffs. 'Corinne' along with tasty female vocals & fine ideas creates a beautiful soundscape. As with all forms of genius there are parts that irritate like 'Some Written' but probably they had to do this to get through to the other side. 'Love Underlined' hypnotically rises through several counter rhythms coming together into a finale & is another slab of brilliance. This album has across the board appeal & though not the album of 2011 (that goes to The Jezabels 'Prisoner') it comes close.

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