Georgia - Euphoric

The Quietus

It’s remarkable where a rogue DM on social media can take you. In 2020, a message from producer Rostam complementing Georgia’s vocals on her collaboration with Mura Masa’s ‘Live Like We’re Dancing’ eventually led the London-born songwriter and producer to Los Angeles. Not only did Georgia find herself in a new environment, she also engaged in a new way of making an album by inviting Rostam to co-produce her third LP, Euphoric.

Having previously been the sole producer with her 2015 self-titled debut and its Mercury nominated follow-up Seeking Thrills, Georgia prefaced that this fresh approach to recording allowed her to delve further into her emotions and experiences and pour herself into her lyrics. Certainly, this path of self-discovery is well traversed throughout these ten excellently crafted tracks. “I’m feeling the pain / I’ve been here before, now / I think never again / I’m down on the floor / but so what, so what if it hurts? / I’d still do it again,” she sings on Euphoric’s melancholic closer , ‘So What’. In this moment, Georgia not only gives audiences a sense of closure from the whirlwind of feelings attached when recounting old relationships, but we also witness an exhilarating expression of self-assuredness from the artist. This is something that comes as both a reward for pain endured and her acknowledgement that there will be more hardships along the way that can only make one stronger for the next stage.

Georgia’s evident emotional growth is complemented by a more sophisticated presentation of her infectious dance-infused pop arrangements. There are moments throughout Euphoric where she colours her songs with shades of William Orbit’s early 2000s production style on ‘Keep It Up’ and ‘Give It Up For Love’, the latter, in particular, instantly heralds All Saints’ hit ‘Pure Shores’. Another distinct influence across the release is Robyn. This is keenly felt in her lyrics, especially when she expresses a desire to dance amongst a crowd on ‘All Night’ and tonally, too, on the brilliantly dynamic and sweeping ‘Mountain Song’, where we get one of the album’s strongest hooks.

This is not the only instance where we’re treated to a stomping chorus. Naturally, Georgia’s background as a drummer is apparent in the album’s dexterous beats and samples. The pulse of ‘Some Things You’ll Never Know’ drives the song to interesting places and does so with an irresistible tempo, similarly the quickened pattern that kicks off ‘Friends Will Never Let You Go’ – which shares a certain air of Let’s Eat Grandma's most recent work – has a lasting effect. Elsewhere, ‘Keep On’ incorporates a much softer and more organic timbre which aptly embodies Georgia singing out, “Can you feel my heart’s calling out for you”.

What is also quite impressive about this album is that amidst the dominant beats and densely textured arrangements, Georgia’s presence and her words are never shrouded. Furthermore, her openness and vulnerability throughout is immensely commanding and as you go through the tracklist, you become increasingly curious to hear where she’s at. Euphoric is another masterful body of work from Georgia, one that has opened her up to a new way of working which will no doubt continue to see her already impressive artistry flourish.

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Pitchfork

Read Eric Torres’ review of the album.

The Guardian 0

(Domino)
Recorded in LA, the British singer-producer’s breezy third album is bigger on uplift than individuality