Collaborative dissonance – Metronomy expertly craft concept in a project pushing their creative boundaries

A dominating force within the electronic indie scene, Metronomy have never shied away from elevating their sound with expert consistency. Their latest release – ‘Posse EP Vol 1’ is no exception to this rule; containing an eclectic line-up of features, it stands to be one of the most unique projects that the group has ever released.  

The EP features a crafted track list where a plethora of musicians were allowed to run with their own ideas and see where they could take them. What Metronomy received back culminates in a focused and individual EP, an impressive feat when each track is being led by a different feature.

The EP juggles genres galore, stringed together with surprising fluidity. 

Every entry has a distinctive feel; theming around disillusionment and lost love. There is an air of positive dissonance as the listeners are given a collection of perspectives that don’t feel that they were separately conceived.  

Opening with an enchanting alternative R&B-hip-hop mash up, ‘Half an Inch’ features Pinty, a local London MC. His lyricism is dynamic and upbeat, growing with the crescendo of the high energy strobe-like backing synths, complimenting his pace and flow. This climactic opening is followed by ‘405’, initially disguised as a love story until Biig Piig delivers the haunting line, “I ran off in the wrong direction / Looking for love when you were stood right there”. 

Behind her soft vocals, retro synth pop adds to the atmosphere of delicacy within relationships, the whole track oozing a dreamlike quality. You then feel the ground return beneath you as a less electronic production style commandeers on third track ‘Uneasy’, an alt-pop look at how obsession is an inevitable component of love. spill tab reveals an all over dominant slinky bassline – all-consuming being an understatement.

As you shift into the second half of the project, you are met with a darker production style that feels cold – an audible switch into negative topics. ‘Out of Touch’ is a slow-paced, unconventional track in which Sorry use repetition with lyricism against a backdrop of bass that is reminiscent of earlier tracks now turned lifeless – a shift in tone that is reflective of a dying relationship.

The closing track ‘Monday’ is dark and intense, with Folly Group adding most prominently drawling guitar, bringing a depth to this track beyond what has already taken place on the EP. It complements the distortion over Brian Nasty’s vocals, his style and delivery unsettling, and comparable to post-punk as it demands attention. The stylistic choices here are bold and cohesive with the subject matter, ending the project on a separate note from where it began, yet doing so through a natural narrative journey. 

There is a certainty with which Metronomy push forward with their own sound, still experimenting and turning to new processes like unguarded collaboration. The EP shows off the grip the quintet still holds on the immersive nuance it takes to deliver such consistent projects. The true stand-out being the distinctive and fully fledged concept and story the listener is presented with; not many could manage to pull this off – especially in only five tracks.

 

Jessica McCarrick

@jessmccarrick_

Image: Stella Murphy - ‘Posse EP Vol 1’ Official EP Cover