The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicLive music

Metronomy at the Roundhouse

Metronomy at the Roundhouse | Live review
9 November 2019
Bev Lung
Avatar
Shot by Arianna Cavalensi
Avatar
Bev Lung Shot by Arianna Cavalensi
9 November 2019

Music review

Bev Lung

Metronomy at the Roundhouse

★★★★★

Highlights

The Look, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, The Bay

Links

Twitter Facebook Instagram Soundcloud Website

On a cold and wet November’s night, electronic band Metronomy present an evening of energetic escapism, warming the crowd up with a non-stop dance party. They may be known for their diverse musical influences and genres, but it’s all tied together with the signature blend of bouncy synth and funky experimentalism. 

The five-piece kick off the show with the wistful Lately, taken from their sixth studio album Metronomy Forever, which was released in September. It appears the crowd are already familiar with new material, judging from instant cheers of recognition following nearly every intro. Many of the 17 tracks are covered, but not before fans are treated to old favourites The Bay and Corinne towards the start of the night. 

The songs are generally short and sweet but it’s a nearly overpacked setlist, blurring the old and the new with eclectic instrumental tracks like Boy Racers interspersed for good measure. Far more interesting as live performances, however, these instrumental album fillers become floor-fillers, transporting the Roundhouse to somewhat of a rave. One particularly memorable moment is the trance-led Lying Low, which builds as two synths are gradually walked closer together and culminates in a weird kind of synth-off.

Musically, all five band members are decent, but the gig’s highlight is rather the energy they bring to the stage – and the room. It’s a curated Friday night party: flashing lights over flashy instrumentals. Bass player Olugbenga Adelekan’s animation is infectious and there’s a lot of fist-pumping from the rest of the group too. Not all songs work on this level, especially when the band rely on psychedelic repetition and looping riffs, but it works for the fans swaying and dancing in the moment. After all, it says a lot for any concert when most mobile phones are tucked away rather than filming. 

Old hits like The Look and Love Letters are saved for the conclusion, amped up alongside creative renditions of new catchy favourite Salted Caramel Ice Cream and cheeky Sex Emoji. The five-piece often play with an underlying theme of time, be it nostalgia or 80s influence, with an album even notably titled Metronomy Forever. “Forever” may be a bold claim but founder and lead singer Joseph Mount is still masterminding zany electronic material 20 years later. Genre clashes may give you whiplash when performed live, but the Roundhouse is sold out, the fans are queuing around the block, and the band are still riding a high. Perhaps “forever” is a term you can believe.

★★★★★

Bev Lung
Photos: Arianna Cavalensi

For further information and future events visit Metronomy’s website here.

Watch the video for Salted Caramel Ice Cream here:

Related Itemslive musicreview

More in Live music

Vienna New Year’s Day Concert at the Musikverein

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Rufus, Martha and Lucy Wainwright Present: A Not So Silent Night “Virtually Together”

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Pete Tong and the Heritage Orchestra: Ibiza Classics – O Come All Ye Ravers at the O2 Arena Online

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Courtney Barnett live from the Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne

★★★★★
Georgie Cowan-Turner
Read More

Gorillaz: Song Machine Live

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

Andrea Bocelli at Teatro Regio di Parma Online

★★★★★
Dan Meier
Read More

Foy Vance: Hope in the Highlands

★★★★★
Georgie Cowan-Turner
Read More

Liam Gallagher: Down by the River Thames

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

Blossoms at Brixton Academy

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Music review

Bev Lung

Metronomy at the Roundhouse

★★★★★

Highlights

The Look, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, The Bay

Links

Twitter Facebook Instagram Soundcloud Website

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Female filmmakers lead nominees for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
    Cinema
  • An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories
    Theatre
  • Persian Lessons
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Jeremiah Fraites – Piano Piano
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Lonely the Brave – The Hope List
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • 23 Walks
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher
    Theatre
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • WandaVision: Marvel’s charming sitcom proves an astounding success
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • The Queen’s Gambit: A chess story that’s not about the moves but the motives
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Zero-waste pioneers Silo to launch new London restaurant this month
The Taming of the Shrew at the Barbican | Theatre review