![Metronomy see a 'Small World' emerge from pandemic](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/b7/c1/4e/Metronomy-see-a--Small-World--emerg-114410.jpg)
-
'Windmill love' sees Dutch artist become mill operator
-
US defends law forcing sale of TikTok app
-
Messi out for defending champ Miami as Leagues Cup begins
-
Australia bans uranium mining at Indigenous site
-
Divers attempt to reach sunken Philippine oil tanker
-
Trump accuses Harris of anti-Semitism in overblown speech
-
Coughlin clings to lead at LPGA Canadian Women's Open
-
Trump offers tech sector policy flips ahead of election
-
Spacecraft to swing by Earth, Moon on path to Jupiter
-
What's the fallout of Mexican drug lords' capture?
-
Video game makers see actors as AI 'data,' says union on strike
-
Chinese qualifier Shang to face Thompson in ATP Atlanta semis
-
'Massive attack' on French rail threatens more chaos
-
'We did it!': France breathes sigh of relief after Olympics ceremony
-
Regional concern grows as Venezuela blocks vote observers
-
Historic river parade, Dion show-stopper ignite Paris Olympics
-
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
-
The one of a kind Paris opening ceremony: five memorable moments
-
Justin Timberlake seeks to dismiss DUI case
-
Warner Brothers Discovery sues NBA over Amazon rights deal
-
Kobe Bryant locker, Maradona jersey up for auction in New York
-
Historic river parade launches Paris Olympics
-
New York family of Holocaust victim reclaims Nazi-looted art
-
NASA Mars rover captures rock that could hold fossilized microbes
-
Thousands evacuate season's biggest wildfire in northern California
-
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
-
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
-
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
-
Teams sail down Seine in rain-soaked Olympics opening ceremony
-
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
-
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
-
Mott's England future uncertain as ECB chief fails to offer support
-
Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Florida
-
S.African police say 95 Libyans detained at suspected military camp
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese counterpart in Laos
-
Norris heads Piastri in McLaren one-two at Belgian GP practice
-
G20 seeks common ground on taxing super-rich
-
European medicines watchdog rejects new Alzheimer's drug
-
Habib, Ebden eye Alcaraz and Djokovic shocks at Olympics tennis
-
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
-
Two Sinaloa Cartel leaders face US charges after stunning capture
-
Spain train driver jailed for 2.5 years over deadly 2013 crash
-
Paris poised for Olympic opening ceremony spectacular
-
Judoka fails doping test in first case at Paris Olympics
-
Holder and Da Silva keep England at bay after West Indies collapse
-
Alpine F1 boss Bruno Famin to leave in August
-
Ethiopia declares three days of mourning after landslide tragedy
-
Brazilian dunes dotted with dazzling pools make UNESCO heritage list
-
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
-
French Rugby's Jaminet suspended 34 weeks after racist video: Federation
![Metronomy see a 'Small World' emerge from pandemic](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/b7/c1/4e/Metronomy-see-a--Small-World--emerg-114410.jpg)
Metronomy see a 'Small World' emerge from pandemic
As the title of his new album suggests, Metronomy's Joe Mount found an unexpected sense of connection to the rest of the planet in the midst of the pandemic.
The multi-instrumentalist returns on Friday with his seventh album of retro pop gems, "Small World".
It reflects a surprisingly enriching couple of years, holed up with his family and young children in the English countryside.
"Growing up, you hear people talking about the population of the world being too big and getting ever bigger. Suddenly the numbers felt more manageable. I felt there was a community suddenly," Mount told AFP.
"Everyone was in the same place, everyone experiencing the same thing," he said.
It was also a chance to take a breather after 20 years of writing and touring.
"The good thing about being at home for the pandemic was realising you don't need to consume stuff. I was quite happy just being at home.
"I've experienced time in a very different way these past two years. How hours make days and days make weeks -- i feel like I've lived every minute."
- 'A bit strange' -
Mount has always been comfortable working alone.
From his early days writing music in his Devon bedroom, the award-winning musician has always written and recorded everything himself, only adding band members for touring as his career took off.
The first single from the new album, "It's Good to be Back", might suggest Mount was keen to get back on stage.
But "it's actually about coming home," he said with a laugh.
And in fact, one of the first comeback gigs was an unusual affair amid the towering glass and water features of the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris in November.
"I was more nervous than usual," said Mount. "The idea of pure pleasure on stage isn't true. There's anxiety. It can feel a bit strange. It ultimately felt good but it's never all that simple."
While the new album is a very upbeat affair musically, some of the lyrics -- such as opening track "Life and Death" -- suggest a more unflinching look at life as Mount turns 40 this year.
"There's a sort of maturity in being comfortable about speaking about anything," he said.
"I think about that with my children. You have to be comfortable to talk about anything because if you don't, you can give them complexes.
"What I want to do with Metronomy is to become more open as the band and I get older."
There are echoes of his heroes, especially David Bowie, on songs like "Love Factory".
"If you sing in a low voice and you have an English accent, you're going to sound like Bowie," he said with a chuckle.
"But he's been a big influence and its impossible to do certain things without sounding like him. It's not conscious but I'm not ashamed to be influenced by him."
A.Magalhes--PC