Metronomy - Holiday (Because)
2/5
By: Dan Monsell
Wonderful Metronomy. A band that usually need do little more than raise a finger and everything is suddenly full of golden - or rather disco fluorescent - goodness.
But what have we here? Unfortunately, Joe Mount's trio have had what can only be described as an off day, cranking out a rather tepid excuse for a haunting disco track full of despair, inevitable tragedy, and a jealous girlfriend who is rather picky about where she wants to go on holiday.
It's the vocals here that really indicate a problem. Mount is even quoted in the record's press release as saying that the singing was recorded in a somewhat drunken state. Sadly, this might account for the rather shaky falsetto performance that plagues a track otherwise nearing the band's usual standard of dark and artful disco-pop splendour.
The inclusion on this four track EP of 'Let's Have a Party' means a long-time live favourite finally finds its way into our CD collections, and for this we thank them. There simply aren't many other groups out there that are able to regale us with veteran descriptions of club land with such cutting poignancy and cynical accuracy.
But unfortunately, overall, we just can't get away from the uncharacteristic dreadfulness of the lead track. Despite its undeniable catchiness and tell-tale Metronomy synths, there is a clear uneasiness in 'Holiday' that makes us feel almost a little nauseous - and not in a good, John Peel-adored noise experiment way. Instead, there are echoes of Bronski Beat's 'Smalltown Boy', or The Pet Shop Boys on helium, all mashed together into a mess of a production. Metronomy wholly deserve every bit of praise they get - they're one of the finest groups in the land, and their new album due in September will be brilliant. Just, this does very little good at all.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment