This is a rather peculiar one, the first release of the electronic outfit Metronomy. Peculiar in the sense that much like their most recent release "Summer '08", the sole member on either is frontman Joseph Mount. The man himself describes this first project as "the sound of someone living in a musically redundant place trying to make exciting music." Vastly different from anything to come after it, the Metronomy name purely used as a moniker, this may stand as one of the best, if not the best album to date from said moniker.
To many a Metronomy fan, they'll be sure to disagree and that is perfectly understandable. I've enjoyed all of what they've had to offer past this, including the return back to solitude in "Summer '08". But what is so striking about "Pip Paine" in particular is that its influences shine through greatly, all of the tracks purely instrumental and experimental in nature, hitting many of the same notes as Aphex Twin or Kraftwerk.
It's chock full of wonderful tracks with introspective and catchy beats such as the self-assured "This Could Be Beautiful (It Is)", featuring a robotic tune that you can't help but bob your head to. It's peaceful in its own unique way, clearing your head of thoughts as you let it sweep you away. Tracks of this calibre are aplenty here, sure-fire given the place that Mount found himself over the spare years he put this together. Getting an old computer and experimenting with your own projects, taking what you've loved and listened to countless times and paying homage.
It works on multiple levels, either listening to it intently for the first time or as a background supplement whilst being productive (or trying to be). With it being given a few listens now, I can easily start this going in comfort and still find new and interesting aspects to each track that I never noticed prior. What Mount must consider is him just messing around on his dad's old hardware speaks high volumes, creating a set of often overlooked and wonderful electronic tracks that never fail to catch my ear.
There are some songs that stand out more than others such as the aforementioned "Beautiful" or the powerful riff-track "You Could Easily Have Me", but as a whole, it's an experience that's akin to that of an upbeat Boards of Canada. There's not much that can be said other than that this is criminally underrated, even amongst Metronomy fans. Now that Mr. Mount is all alone again on his most recent continuation of his musical baby, it's time to look back and see how it all started. Pay the respects you owe to one of the best debuts out there.
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