The English Riviera

Several years ago I stumbled across Midlake and their rather excellent Trials of Van Occupanther album. It contains the quite sublime single Roscoe and really is my choice when I want to just sit back and chill with some music that soothes and pleases in equal measures. The English Riviera might just supplant that CD now as it really does those two tasks and quite a few more. For an album that's named after the area of Devon where the head honcho comes from it has influences all over the globe. The laid back elegance of French music, Gainsbourg particularly, the electronics of the 80's new wave, the mid 80 Peter Gabriel sound (listen to She Wants and it could be off PG3 or 4), some have suggested the eagles are referenced here too although it doesn't quite pull me in that direction. However, what is always here is an incredibly well put together, melodic and memorable album.

To point at a single track or one or two would be missing the point here as its very consistent throughout. This is adult oriented pop music that pretty much delivers every time. The music lingers afterwards and you can feel yourself wanting to listen again. The vocal harmonies are good and the male and female counterparts are used well. If you want a good chilled pop album then you will be well pleased on hearing this.

Now is a good time to re-appreciate this album. The Mercury panel have deemed it worthy of the short-list and whilst it probably won't win it will get more airplay and that's exactly what it deserves.

Had someone described the sound of Metronomy I would probably have overlooked it as its not a genre of music I normally look for. However a brief appearance on BBC's 2011 Glastonbury coverage,combined with strong reviews had me curious. The sound is hard to descibe but I would say electronic disco combined with sounds of the 60's,70s and early electronic 80s. Right from the opening track - this album has you hooked from the word go, extremely creative, original and fresh - bringing together a collection various sounds from your lifetime and somehow pulling them all into one album. 'We broke free', 'Everything goes my way', 'The Look' and 'The Bay' being my personal highlights. This album is mind blowingly good and easily the best album Ive heard of 2011 - a future classic!

Take a mix of Serge Gainsbourg (especially track 2 - which sounds like a direct lift from Melody Nelson), MGMT, The Bee Gees, Franz Ferdinand, Japan (there's some fretless bass in there), a little early Human League and Ultravox and some melodies from the Sarah Records back catalogue. Blend. Anglicise. Play.

I got a hold of this album based on the single 'The Look' which was being played heavily on 6 Music.

The album hasn't disappointed. Great tunes and considerable variety. Will work my way through the back catalogue based on this.