The English Riviera is the third studio album by English electronic music band Metronomy, released on 8 April 2011 by Because Music. Following the release of their second studio album, Nights Out (2008), founding member Gabriel Stebbing left the band (on this album, Olugbenga Adelekan had joined on bass and Anna Prior had joined on drums). However, Stebbing recorded the bass parts on the album prior to his departure.
The album was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize.
Singles "She Wants" was released as the lead single from the album on 26 January 2011. The promo video (directed in Jul & Mat) takes place during a house party with the action being played out in reverse in one continuous take. The bandmembers are absent although pictures of the group's faces can be seen throughout the video. At one point a QR code is mounted on a wall, providing an interactive feature that allows fans to access the Metronomy website after being scanned.
"The Look" was released as the second single on 11 March 2011. The video, directed by Lorenzo Fonda, depicts the band performing the song in a white room alongside stop motion animated sequences featuring seagulls. The band scenes were filmed in London while the animation was produced in Los Angeles. Frontman Joseph Mount is seen playing a Yamaha Electone EX-2 organ. The song is played over the end titles of the 2013 Pedro Almodóvar film I'm So Excited!
The third single, "The Bay", was released on 10 June 2011. The video, directed by David Wilson, intersperses bird's-eye views of Torbay (known as the English Riviera) and the band performing the song at various places in Torquay where the video was shot.
"Everything Goes My Way" was released on 17 October 2011 as the album's fourth and final single. The video features the band along with guest vocalist Roxanne Clifford having a stroll in a nature reserve surrounded by deer.
Critical reception
NME placed the album at number two on its list of the "Top 50 Albums of 2011", while Uncut and Q listed the album at numbers three and seventeen, respectively. Mike Williams of NME wrote, "With this, his third full-length album, Joe Mount has transformed his Metronomy project from a jaunty, brilliant, yet ultimately niche electro outfit into one of the most expansive and visionary pop bands in the country".
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of The English Riviera.
Metronomy Joseph Mount – vocals ; drums ; guitar ; Juno-60 ; percussion ; handclaps ; Minimoog ; Moog Source ; Solina String Ensemble ; bass guitar ; talk box, Yamaha CS-80 ; Wurlitzer 200A ; congas, EDP Wasp ; Moog modular ; Yamaha CS-50 ; clavinet, Yamaha CS2x ; arrangement Oscar Cash – guitar ; saxophone ; handclaps ; Siel Orchestra ; Juno-60 Anna Prior – backing vocals ; drums ; vocals, handclaps Olugbenga Adelekan – bass guitar, handclaps
Additional musicians Harriet Wheeler – violin Gabriel Stebbing – bass guitar ; handclaps ; guitar solo Roxanne Clifford – vocals Ash Workman – handclaps Marion Cassan – vocals Nicole Elizabeth – backing vocals
Technical Ash Workman – engineering, mixing Jedidiah Allcock – engineering assistance Jamie Bell – engineering assistance Julien Noudin – engineering assistance Nilesh – mastering Joseph Mount – production
Artwork John Gorham – cover image Grégoire Alexandre – photography Joseph Mount – art direction Aaron Larney – design layout
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for The English Riviera Chart (2011) Peakposition Australian Digital Albums (ARIA) 49
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for The English Riviera Chart (2011) Position French Albums (SNEP) 88
Certifications
In 2012, the album was certified 2× Gold by the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), denoting sales in excess of 150,000 copies across Europe.
Release history + Release history for The English Riviera Region Date Label Ireland 8 April 2011 Because United Kingdom 11 April 2011 France Warner Germany 15 April 2011 Australia 6 May 2011 Because Canada 31 May 2011 Warner United States 26 July 2011
References