It’s clear that Metronomy have an ear for a good tune. Just listen to some of the singles from Nights Out – ‘Radio Ladio’ sounds like it’s been scientifically engineered to get awkward kids dancing, ‘A Thing For Me’ sounds like a warped, computerised soul record and ‘Heartbreaker’ makes a squeaking door sound like a viable element of percussion. But looking past all the brilliance of their instrumentation and songcraft, the real heart of Metronomy is their unwaveringly British sensibility. Each of these songs takes that peculiarly British sensation of the lovelorn lead singer and rams it stright into the dance scene it never wanted to be a part of. What we’re left with is twisted dance songs with mournful, danceable vocals.

I’ve only just got round to listening to the band’s Not Made For Love EP and whilst a fair few people I know were quite sniffy about it, I think it’s really rather nice. The three non-remixesa all sound as though Joseph Mount wanted to sideline the big dance tunes and just make electronic indie. What we get is all of Metronomy’s electronic quirkiness, just toned down and made secondary to Mount’s beautifully understated singing style. Of course I hope the band will go back to their dancefloor ways, but this little sideline proves that Metronomy’s broken heart is what makes the rest of their wonderfully ramshackle body of work keep moving in its own special way.

Metronomy – Not Made For Love (YSI)