METRONOMY
Small World (Because)
Small World is the most grown-up release from Metronomy to date: catchy and pleasant, but without their usual eccentricity, especially on Love Factory and Right On Time. For their seventh album, the band opt for a significantly more mellow sound and mature themes, exploring parenthood and life’s simple pleasures, saying goodbye to synthy disco tracks and adolescent heartbreak.
I Lost My Mind sounds a lot like MGMT’s Congratulations and the bassline on Loneliness On The Run has a grungey feel. Impassioned vocals from Dana Margolin of Brighton’s Porridge Radio are a brilliant addition to Hold Me Tonight, making it a standout track. But it’s the album’s two lead singles, It’s Good To Be Back and Things Will Be Fine which come closest to Metronomy’s typical exuberance and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
If the band’s previous albums were a late-night drive on a seaside holiday, then Small World is an early morning trip to the park with your kids.
words ROSANNA LEWIS