The Metronomes – The Ballad Of The Metronomes (2010) – LITTLE LOST CLASSICS

When you think about the Australian musical underworld of the late 70s/early 80s, your brain almost automatically points in the direction of the many punk and post-punk bands there, such as Scientists, Radio Birdman, Birthday Party and so on. Normally, they are all references and basic school for any fan of underground music.

But amidst this profusion of guitars there was a trio contemporaries to those mentioned above that differed from what they were doing at the time, and that is why they are never remembered. At least there, because here we don't play what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. And find out.

Metronomes (not to be confused with the homonymous vocal group from Philadelphia from the 60s) was born in the city of Melbourne in 1979, formed by Al Webb, Andrew Picouleau and Ash Wednesday (later a member of Neubauten and therefore responsible for my introduction to his band original'). During their first incarnation – between 79 and 85 – they released two singles and two albums where dark and minimalist electronic music called coldwave sets the tone, completely clashing with their compatriots.

If in Regular guysmetronomes' second album released in 85, the more pop and 'colorful' sound of synthesizers appears (a fruit of the time, undoubtedly), on the 7-inch records that came out in 1980 (Saturday night/sunday morning e A circuit like me) and no debut Multiple choice (from 1981) the footprint is much less animated (laughs) and more focused on freezing sound that was made in other places at the same time.

All this material was originally released by Cleopatra Records and in 2010 the German label Mannequin encapsulated it in the compilation The ballad of The Metronomeswhich you can listen to in the player below to get to know (or re-get to know) yet another face of the prolific Australian underground scene that has been influencing the global underground for 4 decades. Including electronic.

Listen to the stalk!