The English Riviera by Metronomy

The English Riviera, Metronomy's third album, arrived on Because Music in April 2011, and it's the sound of Joseph Mount's Totnes-formed outfit settling into a proper band. Founding member Gabriel Stebbing had walked after Nights Out, though his bass parts stayed on the tapes, and drummer Anna Prior and bassist Olugbenga Adelekan were the fresh recruits.

The record goes for smooth and sun-dazed, a seaside daydream built from indietronica pulse, new wave angles and a neo-soul glide. Mount's keyboards glint rather than fizz, and the grooves are left plenty of room to breathe, which makes the whole thing feel like a slow afternoon stroll along a chilly promenade. "The Look" is the calling card, a lazy, loping strut with a hook that sneaks up on you. The Mercury Prize judges noticed too, nominating it for the 2011 award.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.