Metronomy - My Heart Rate Rapid

This lead single from the upcoming follow-up to 2006's debut album suggests a slightly new direction for the melancholy electro-popsters. For a start, Metronomy are now a proper band, rather than a solo act, and it shows on this slice of mutant disco which sounds far fuller than previous work. It also features vocals, which is a first - even if they are a barely discernible falsetto. The synth melodies are sweet, but the squeaky choruses are worryingly close to irritating. B-Side Matthias Gathering makes for a track that's much more interesting with its wild, samba-like rhythms, but the Matron Retromx is functional electro that misses the point of the original's shy optimism. [Scott Ramage]