Metronomy — Small World — Album Review
Electronic | Indie
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
When I most recently came across metronomy, following the release of this album, the name of the group seemed oddly familiar. Of course, it was after a little digging that I discovered that this was indeed the same band that had released Metronomy Forever back in 2019. It was an album that received high critical praise. Yet, it was one that I never got round to reviewing.
That being said, Small World is my first true introduction to the Devon band and their electro-indie sound, and is the band’s seventh and newest studio album. At this point, you should probably expect that I wasn’t quite so certain as to what to expect from Metronomy, other than the fact that their style would lean towards the indie genre (that’s pretty much all I knew). I also didn’t listen to any teaser material in the lead-up to its release. Instead, I was going into the project with a completely clean mental slate.
However, one look at the album cover set my hopes up for something that would prove to be a warm and uplifting project, that feels perfectly apt for the fast-approaching springtime. Indeed, that seems to be one of the many qualities that this album carries.
Many of the tracks on Small World (if not all of them) carries the springtime feels in spadeloads. But on top of that, this album has the character and charm to back those atmospheric qualities up.
Every single song on this thing feels completely indifferent to one another. In other words, all of them have at least a few things to love, enjoy, and remember. Metronomy seem to borrow different aspects of other bands; the ones I picked up on were potentially E.L.O, and maybe a bit of Gorillaz in there as well (I namely felt that way with the track “Loneliness on the run”).
The other element of this album that makes the tracks even more great, is how finely trimmed the album is overall. Metronomy could’ve easily packed this record with other tunes (given the seemingly endless creativity they carry). However, they knew that the 9 tracks we end up getting with Small World was just the right amount. I have adored albums in the past that carry a similar amount of tracks, and I feel that same admiration towards Small World.
But what is most impressive about this album in my opinion, is the insane amount of immersion the different musical moods create. Each and every one of these tracks pulled me in to its musical soundscape. And that, is a quality unlike any other. Nevertheless, it is far from the only quality, that has been packed into this amazing musical experience.
I truly wasn’t expecting that Metronomy’s Small World would blow me away as much as it did. However, it absolutely shattered my expectations. It honestly feels like the epitome of when indie music is done absolutely right. An album like this not only does the often oversaturated genre a great deal of justice, but it will likely push the genre forward.
Favourite Tracks: Things will be fine | Loneliness on the run | Love Factory | I lost my mind | Right on time
Least Favourite Track: n/a
Because Music
