BACK TO BASICS: Metronomy's debut, "Pip Paine (Pay The £5,000 You Owe)", one of the most overlooked debut albums?...

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.

BOYS DON'T CRY: Frank Ocean's "channel ORANGE" and his imminent new release...

A new outing by the famed Frank Ocean is nearly upon us so it is indeed as good a time as ever to look back on his album debut, "channel ORANGE". With an unconventional style seen rarely before, it is easy to understand why this released to such acclaim back in 2012 as there just isn't anything quite like it.

I knew I was in for a treat as soon as the opening track, aptly titled "Start" well, started. An ambient offering, it banks on your nostalgia, with a sound that is all too familiar to those who ever got their hands on an original PlayStation. This immediately being followed up by the downright soulful "Thinkin' Bout You" is bliss. An opening string sequence transitions into a soft electronic beat in a way you never thought could happen so smoothly. This backed up with Ocean's initially surprising snaps between baritone and falsetto vocal registers makes for a certainly memorable track, which some consider the best of the album. And when you open your album with what is debatably your best track, (here's looking at you, "The Life of Pablo") you better have a strong offering to follow.

But of course, it does. The obviously film-inspired segue tracks create a flow between tracks, most notably the follow-up track to "Thinkin' Bout You", "Fertilizer". It creates one seamless experience, something commonly heard on Boards of Canada's discography, an intermission before the next piece comes along to entertain. "Sierra Leone" is that next piece, rich in metaphors and allusions a layer deeper than the face value of the lyrics presented. The song title echoes into your ears as surreal imagery is posed by Ocean in the form of the Sierra Leone's pink skies, relating to a loved one. The tracks as it continues brings the same offering, which is no flaw, mind you, and then the album hits its centerpiece: "Pyramids".

"Pyramids" is by far and away my personal favourite, cramming in so many styles so flawlessly with an epic scope, edging into the 10-minute mark. The length is not an issue, those 10 minutes go by in half that time, a true joy to listen to. It has multiple movements; opening with Ocean's trademark R&B quirks before swapping that out for an electronic tinge and coming to a close with a slow jam. The mid-point is where it is at its most exciting with its electronic beat unlike anything I've heard before, alluding to prostitution: "She's working at the pyramid tonight." Oh, Cleopatra, how you are. 

The other standout that stems from this is "Forrest Gump", a seemingly straightforward tribute to the titular character, masquerading to be Ocean using the perspective of Gump's love interest as his own. Ocean's lingering feelings for his first love, a controversial point that floated around the album at its initial release to which there is one simple answer for: the album itself. This song does not outright prove his sexuality but is a heavy metaphor that essentially consolidates his feelings. It stands as a strong track with Frank again showcasing his soulful performance with a rock solid beat to back it up.

There are individual highlights but this album's greatest strength is that it culminates into an overall experience, a journey into Frank Ocean's idiosyncrasies and thoughts. That is what makes it special, its unconventional nature is unique to itself. If the rumours are true, "Boys Don't Cry" is due out this Friday, August 5th. I know what I will be listening to that day. Until then, its a perfect time to catch up with "channel ORANGE"... or listen to it again, and again, and again...