Metronomy
Small World
Because Music
Metronomy โ the Joseph Mount-led collective from England โ is now on their seventh album and seems to be taking things easy this time around.
Understated is probably the word for it. Mountโs vocals shyly coax in tracks like โHold Me Tonightโ and โI Have Seen Enoughโ. The arrangements are economic, measured in worth by their quirks; the pincer-sharp string strikes in โHold Me Tonightโ are a highlight as light-hearted electro-pop beats become a mainstay throughout.
โI Lost My Mindโ is the closest they come to excess, with psychedelic swirls and the chorusโ harmonies going round in circles at the end as if lost in their own high. Itโs a rare moment before returning to the light-weighted charms of โRight on Timeโ and โI Have Seen Enoughโ โ but itโs nice to see theyโre not afraid to let their hair down occasionally.
At times some tracks sound a bit too similar. โRight On Timeโ is a bit redundant after the similarly quirky light-on-the-air chorus of โItโs Good To Be Backโ. The self-imposed restraint can feel as if some opportunities were passed by, with songs rarely gaining much momentum despite the interesting ideas on display.
However, you can spend too long wondering what might have been. The tunes that we have sound fresh and what youโd expect from a band whoโve been honing their craft for the past 20 years. It may not be blazing any new territory, but as consolidation efforts go this is some good stuff.
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: METRONOMY @ THE DANFORTH MUSIC HALL, TORONTO
Artistย Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: METRONOMY – SMALL WORLD
Calum Moran