"Saturday Night" / "Sunday Morning"  (1979)

45 rpm vinyl single.

Label: Cleopatra Records

Andrew and Al conceived an independently released single featuring a real (as per the cover) metronome as the rhythm section with instrumentals layered over. Ash, who we knew from the general music scene we all mixed in, guested on "Saturday Night". Andrew used some buddies from X-Ray-Z for "Sunday Morning".

A Circuit Like Me / Closed Circuit  (1980)

45 rpm vinyl single.

Label: Cleopatra Records

By this time we were experimenting with drum machines. Rhythm sections for both sides were recorded using a borrowed Roland CR-78. Andrew and I once again had a side each, but Ash collaborated on both (which is what the cover is trying to represent). It was the first time a vocal had been used, albeit spoken, courtesy of a lady called Talking Judy. "A Circuit Like Me" has become a collector's item in Europe. All three of us have had emails from people enquiring about it.

Multiple Choice  (1980)

33 rpm vinyl LP.

Label: Cleopatra Records

Towards Christmas the three of us spent a day generating ideas and rehearsing a few half-formed ones, then went into a small suburban studio for a week and recorded the album. Many happy accidents happened, many fun and (in hindsight) quite strong concepts were recorded. There is a general theme about "timing"...get it? We enjoyed the sessions and I think it shows.

Main drum machine used was a DR-055 (aka Dr. Rhythm). Ash did a great job of treating and fattening it. We also used a mini-Korg, Roland strings and some other early synths (now popping up as collector's items). Backwards hurdy-gurdy and a Milo tin are also listed in the credits.

A number of Special Guests appeared on different tracks doing things like reading shopping lists and playing ARP synthesisers. This was becoming a standard element of Metronomes recordings.

Music For Lounges, available as a free download, was recorded for this album and gained some recognition after being played on a well-regarded FM radio album show.

Regular Guys  (1985)

33 rpm vinyl LP.

Label: Cleopatra Records

The second album, recorded after a break in which our various lives and careers took left and right hand turns, was more premeditated in that most songs arrived already written. Each writer had creative control over their respective songs, a long-standing Metronomes road rule. Only one track had what you might call a spontaneous birth.

The reviewers were pretty much right - results are mixed, some highlights in amongst some dross. It certainly wasn't as quirky as the first, or as funny, but it had its moments. Production values were high for an indie release. Rick Lewis's sleeve was also a highlight.

This LP featured the next wave of synth toys like Oberheim synth, Oberheim drum machine and Prophet 5. Once the programming was set up, the instrument tracks (ie. their digital data) were dumped via a PCM box direct to video tape, a process which almost entirely eliminated tape hiss. Welcome to the digital age!

The Metronomes Play Their Favourites  (1986)

Unreleased recording of three cover versions.

Each of us selected a favourite song for interpretation by the Metronomes. The songs selected were:

Al: Psychotic Reaction

Andrew: Almost Cut My Hair

Ash: Boney Moronie

Psychotic Reaction had a snare that sounded like a tomahawk cutting into a tree, Almost Cut My Hair could only be described as laconic, and Boney Moronie was...well, psychotic.

Much as we wanted to, we were not able to obtain finances. We were also a bit wary of dealing with third party publishers. So we just kind of left them in the vault.