What is it about certain music that hits us deeper than other music? It may be the proficiency in lyricism, masterful harmonies and chord progressions, arrangements that give us a dreamy or brooding or wistful or hopeful feelings. Perhaps it is all of these things at once, or at the very least the right combination of a few. Ultimately, it is perhaps a question of whether something feels unique or at least fresh to our ears and hearts.
But could something broad and very generalized evoke strong feelings? Is it possible that music that sounds nostalgic and lyrics that are very generic could make us feel as deeply as something that hits us personally? Joseph Mount and his Metronomy prove that indeed it is possible on their new album Small World. While it’s a seemingly generic and secondary record in most senses, it is still able to evoke emotion that has its own depth and creates an overall rewarding listening experience.
What makes for a rewarding experience when it comes to music? Usually it is the same thing that feels rewarding in completing a task, finishing a book, or yet another music album — it is taking the journey that an undertaking takes you on. Joseph Mount has released his fair share of records that took listeners on a journey. On the debut Pip Paine (Pay the £5000 You Owe) and the epochal follow up Nights Out, Mount showed off his mastery of production, exhibiting such daring in his usage of such cheap sounds that not only was he able to transcend the comical qualities of these sounds, but create positively uplifting and meditative works. Small World, however, is not a record of this sort and is really quite far from it, so it must be that something else makes it a worthy listen.
Another aspect of a record that makes it a pleasant and interesting experience is when the listener can feel a new level of maturity that the artist reached with a certain record; for Metronomy that was The English Riviera. Their most well-known and acclaimed record combined the production style of the first two records with more pop sensibilities in creating a wholly different sound. Yet, Small World doesn’t fit that bill either. It is certainly not a record that breaks new ground in production or songwriting.
There is an approach, that doesn’t usually end up with something rewarding – taking it easy. However, Metronomy’s Small World shows us exactly what it’s like to take it easy but still deliver have a rewarding experience. For starters, Small World is only a half-hour long album, making it much less of challenge than with a lot of other albums.
Small World is a record that, to the fullest extent, does everything it sets out to do. It uses straight-forward and uncomplicated lyrics and simple production reminiscent of 00s indie-pop to its full advantage. While some artists steer clear of creating lighthearted, simple, unsophisticated records, Joseph Mount doesn’t have that fear, which is why it works so well. He’s still imprinted sincerity onto this record, just in a different way. It sounds as though Mount is satisfied with all he’s achieved with previous Metronomy albums, which lets him not even think about chasing more accolades and deliver something blissful.
Ironically, taking it easy is not something that comes easy, but it is an absolute necessity to not go crazy in this world. Metronomy lend a helping hand in achieving a relaxed state; even the potential sadness and hardship seem manageable within Small World: “Things will be fine”.
