Metronomy
With Klaxons on temporary hiatus, Metronomy are the latest band du jour to take up the torch for the post new-rave generation. Their superb album ‘Nights Out’ has been met with critical acclaim from publications around the land-NME awarding it 9/10-and with members of the Black Kids and Joe Lean in the audience, there’s a huge sense of anticipation at the Deaf Institute.
An excitable recommendation from Ali (Black Kids) is all we need to have more than a passing interest in the first support act of the evening- intriguing New Zealand four piece Collapsing Cities. As the power chords are furiously struck the crowd begins to swell and within just a few minutes of the set the anticipation is more than justified.
Almost effortlessly the band have created a sound much alike an antipodean version of The Cribs. Songs like ‘Seriously’ and ‘Fear Of Opening My Mouth’ rumble along with an almost clinical efficiency-watch out for them, when back on these shores.
(We Are) Performance live up to their name though. The music, whilst intense and visceral, is nothing more than fair. Like The Horrors who have listened to slightly too much electroclash. Their USP lies in maniacal front man Joe Stretch whose cocksure posturing is mesmerising, however he does look spaced throughout their sharp performance; gesturing and speaking to himself between songs- fascinating, but very odd.
Then as Metronomy hit the stage like the electro fiends they have now proven they are, the crowd go wild. Previous single ‘Heartbreaker’ gets a rapturous reception, a buoyant paean to a relationship gone awry- “But in my eyes she's done us wrong/ enough times for you to side with meâ€.
Similarly ‘Radio Ladio’, ‘Holiday’ and ‘My Heart Rate Rapid’ transcend most other electronica being released at the moment. There’s a synchronised light show beating out from their chests and perhaps more importantly there’s a fabulously skewed set of winning dance/pop/funk beating out of the PA system.
It’s not as brain-melding as Late of the Pier or as off-kilter as Daft Punk, but it’s pitched nicely in the middle. New rave may be officially over, but Metronomy, believe me, are here to stay.
Lee Anthony Sentino