Late to the party nu-ravers chiefly renowned for wearing light-bulbs around their necks, Metronomy were easily dismissed as day-glo chancers when first they surfaced two years ago. Since then, however, frontman Joseph Mount has carved out a cred-building parallel career as producer and remixer (Lykee Li and Goldfrapp being among those who have sought his gold touch).
There’s certainly little glo-stick novelty about The English Riviera, an entirely sincere homage to the south coast town of Totnes Devon where Mount grew up. Swishing between soft-rock, cheese-whiffing euro-pop and down-tempo funk, the record manages to be both louche and utterly heartfelt. The ghost of Duran Duran is respectfully conjured on ballad ‘Everything Goes My Way’, whilst ‘The Look’ re-imagines Kraftwerk as wistful Englishmen . There’s no lack of melancholy but the bleakness is shot through with a heady ‘80s nostalgia. It’s like attending a wake at your favorite cocktail lounge – weird but strangely appealing.