Metronomy’s much anticipated return continues to gain momentum. Their sublime single ‘Lately’ premiered on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show, while the likes of Pitchfork, Dazed, Rolling Stone, NME and The FADER were amongst those that praised its release. The band’s renowned live energy is certainly back too, following a triumphant set at All Points East.
Now Metronomy build on that launch with a triple-rush of activity. They share the new single and video for ‘Salted Caramel Ice Cream’, announce the September 13th release of their eagerly anticipated sixth album ‘Metronomy Forever’, and confirm details of a major UK and European tour.
The follow-up to 2016’s ‘Summer 08’, ‘Metronomy Forever’ features 17 tracks. Its length is born from a desire for breathing room, from not wanting to stuff the hits together like a bouquet of petrol station roses – a modern way of listening to music. Metronomy’s innate skill for blending off-kilter funk, energising club vibes and esoteric pop is interspersed with some mood-setting, glistening and melodic electronic tracks.
The band’s leader Joseph Mount called upon a variety of inspirations for this album. Most notably, he wanted to replicate the feeling of listening to the radio, with an infinite quality, sumptuous songs of different styles, ever rolling, helping to lighten your mood. Moving away from the bustle of his former Parisian home to take up residence atop a hill in the garden of England had an impact, infusing the album with a sense of tranquillity and a calm joy that reflects the relative happiness of his existence.
Also influential was time spent working on Robyn’s critically adored ‘Honey’ album, with a similar feeling of emotional, intense, carnal mania informing songs such as ‘Sex Emoji’ and ‘Salted Caramel Ice Cream’.
‘Metronomy Forever’ in name represents something looking backwards and forwards simultaneously, like Janus, something fated and eternal. You were made from dust and to dust you will return, that sort of thing.
After making his directorial debut with ‘Lately’, Mount also helmed the larger scale video for ‘Salted Caramel Ice Cream’.
As Mount explains,
Years ago a friend of mine gave me a VHS tape of the MTV show ‘120 Minutes’. It’s something I’d get him to do every so often as I was a bit obsessed with music TV at the time. On one particular tape was the video for ‘Sonne’ by Rammstein, I’d never seen them before and it blew my mind. This video is a sort of homage to that, but with an added story about the gentrification of ice cream parlours.
OCTOBER
9th – France, Bordeaux, Rocher de Palmer
10th – France, Nantes, Stereolux
11th – France, Lyon, Amphitheatre 3
12th – France, Toulouse, Le Bikini
15th – France, Paris, Olympia
18th – France, Nancy, Jazz Pulsations
19th – Belgium, Antwerp, De Roma
21st – Germany, Munich, Tonhalle
22nd – Germany, Cologne, Carlswerk
23rd – Germany, Hamburg, Docks
24th – Germany, Berlin, Columbiahalle
26th – Germany, Offenbach am Main, Capitol
28th – The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Melkweg
29th – Denmark, Copenhagen, Vega
NOVEMBER
6th – UK, Southampton, Guildhall
8th – UK, London, The Roundhouse
9th – UK, Manchester, Academy
11th – UK, Leeds, 02 Academy
13th – UK, Glasgow, SWG3
14th – UK, Bristol, O2 Academy
15th – UK, Nottingham, Rock City
16th – UK, Birmingham, The O2 Institute