A sun-drenched, sophisticated sequel that trades neon-lit anxiety for golden-hour reflection. Shimmering synths meet acoustic warmth in a late-career highlight.
It's the sunset-colored sequel that proves Metric can do 'pretty' just as well as they do 'gritty'.
A sophisticated and sun-drenched reflection on the passage of time and the search for peace.
Released in late 2023, Formentera II serves as the companion piece and stylistic expansion of their 2022 album, Formentera. Recorded during the same sessions at the band's Mainframe studio in Toronto and in various locations across Europe, the album represents a more melodic and perhaps more 'classic' Metric sound compared to the darker, more experimental first volume. While Formentera was born out of the tension and isolation of the pandemic, Formentera II feels like the release of that tension. It features a notable blend of the band's synth-pop roots with a newfound interest in acoustic textures and longer, more atmospheric song structures. Critically, it has been noted for its cohesion and the strength of Emily Haines' songwriting, which continues to explore themes of identity and the passage of time. The album was released independently via their own label, further cementing their status as pioneers of the modern independent music model.
Put this on for
Sunlight hitting the dashboard during a solo drive to the coastThat specific quiet after the party guests have all leftHeadphones on while the city lights blur through a train windowBarefoot kitchen dancing while the coffee brews on a slow SundayReading a letter from an old friend you haven't seen in yearsWatching the tide come in as the sky turns deep violetWalking through a familiar neighborhood that feels slightly different today
Moments worth waiting for
The transition into the disco-inflected groove of Just the Once that feels like a sudden burst of color.
The sprawling, six-minute build of Days of Oblivion where the synths gradually overtake the vocal melody.
The stark, vulnerable acoustic opening of Nothing Is Perfect that strips away the band's usual electronic armor.
Sounds like
2023s production with a 2020s soul
Sits beside
The Car - Arctic Monkeys, Life on Earth - Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Slow Rush - Tame Impala, Blue Rev - Alvvays
Lyrical territory
self_examination, nostalgia, identity
03Deviation
Formentera II · vs · Metric
Artist
This Album
Medium Energy
Energy · ↓ −17% less than usual
On this album, medium energy sits about 17% less prominent than across the rest of the artist's catalogue.
