MUSIC fans are spoilt for choice following the release of Metronomy’s sixth album, Metronomy Forever, ahead of a major UK and European tour this November. As the follow up to 2016’s Summer 08 and No1 hit The Look which launched the band to stardom, Metronomy Forever is the band’s longest album yet with 17 tracks. Yet, lead singer Joe Mount says that the album release had him questioning the purpose of creating music in an ever-changing world.
“The whole process of making it was quite interesting for me – it was maybe the first time I’ve made a record and questioned all kinds of big things,” he said. “I did have some self-doubt moments. You always have them when you make a record but it made me think, ‘Why do I make music?’ Why am I bothering?”
Luckily for Metronomy fans, Joe’s self-doubts only served to make the record better. More genre-bending than ever, the record dips from electronic guitar-lead vocal tracks like Lately, to almost wholly electronic tracks such as Lying Low.
“Your relationship to music changes a lot as you grow up. I think that’s what this record is mostly about. Now that it’s done I’m happy with it and I feel like there is a place in the world for Metronomy and Metronomy are going to occupy that place. I’m looking forward to people hearing it and seeing what they think.”
Since their summer release, album singles Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Walking in the Dark and Lately have already racked up over six million streams on Spotify – people are clearly excited to hear what Metronomy have to say.
“There is an interesting thing that happens when you make anything – it’s the process of it which is the stimulating thing. The pleasure you get from writing is the refining of something, there is a big starting possibility and then it's narrowed down.”
With this being the sixth album, Joe says that the band's priorities have changed. Whereas before it was all about the album, now it's enjoying the touring – which starts in November with a Glasgow date at SWG3 on the 13th.
“That’s the thing – when you’re young and obsessed with music, which is what I was, what you’re obsessed with is the product. What I’ve realised over the course of making this record is that is now the thing for me, the making and thinking and writing. The tour is the celebration of that product.”
And as mentioned, the tour is coming to Glasgow. Are Metronomy excited to make a return?
“We’re totally looking forward to it,” says Joe. “It’s one of the cities that we have a routine where we have gigs there. We always go out after the gig, we never don’t go into town after. There are certain cities we go out and Glasgow is one of them.”
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