Named after an obscure early
Clint Eastwood movie from the 60s (minus the possessive apostrophe),
Germany’s Coogans Bluff blend soul, psychedelia, stoner rock
and classic rock. Metronopolis features prominent, funky horns
(‘Gadfly’), soft rock (‘Sincerely Yours’), and noodling 70s guitar with
added Hammond organ (‘Soft Focus’). A notably uncomplicated approach to the
rhythm section, as well as minimal vocals, means that despite its progressive
leanings and flower-power trappings, things never get too messy or weird. Put
simply, there are plenty of hooks thrown in with the more experimental stuff. It’s
not perfect: the second half of the album tails off a little, and the more modern
electronic elements don’t entirely work when mixed with the overall 60s/70s
vibe. A spring album, I definitely played it less as the year went on, but I did keep coming back to it even in the second half of the year,
which is a sign of how much I enjoyed it. Overall Metronopolis is an
excellent record that neatly straddles invention and accessibility.