I have played Metric albums before, but
none of them ever left much of an impression. This time it clicked, and as a result I’ve been revisiting
– and enjoying – their previously dismissed back catalogue. Formentera is
certainly the high watermark for me, though, probably because it’s the first
record of theirs that I fell for, and I fell for it hard. The amazing
‘Doomscroller’ is a formidable start and hard to see beyond when one thinks of
the record. A 10+ minute masterpiece, with its unerring bassline pinning you
down while all hell breaks loose, before the whole thing shifts gear entirely
(more than once). Lyrically vital (‘ruling classes trickle piss from champagne
glasses’) and musically so confidently ambitious, it’s a track that has more to
it than most albums. But Formentera is far from a one trick pony. Other
highlights for me include the rolling synth ballad ‘Enemies of the Ocean’ (with
its wonderful big band chorus), the instant dance-pop classic ‘Oh Please’, and
the ethereal ‘Paths in the Sky’, which is a fittingly excellent way to end
things. But the truth is this record is essential listening and every track on
it is fantastic. I think that I prefer Formentera to both of my last two
List toppers from 2021 and 2020 – which says a lot about the two records that
I’ve ranked above it.