Album: Georgia - Euphoric

For someone predominantly poised at her kit, the mononymous music producer’s return is surprisingly devoid of live drums. Daughter of Leftfield cofounder Neil Barnes, Georgia has made a name for herself as the drummer for artists such as Kwes and Kae Tempest. Her 2019 release Seeking Thrills was “a hymn to British hedonism” with a hefty slice of Robyn-esque pop panache. Last year saw Georgia embrace these stadium-sized singalongs as tour support for LA sister trio Haim.

While her lively rendition of Kate Bush’s iconic “Running Up That Hill” received a new wave of mass appreciation after the song charted at No.1, 37 years after its original release, thanks to the sync deal with Netflix series, Stranger Things.

Euphoric isn't exactly lacking in beats, far from it. Only this time around, the songwriter and producer has leaned hard on those Nineties production values. “Some Things You’ll Never Know” enters into dance-banger territory with those Baby D piano trills. Recent single “Give It Up For Love” centres around the same swaggy keyboard sound that Shaun Ryder was twisting his melon to on Happy Mondays’ infamous “Step On.” “All Night” continues in the club vein but the vocoder and phaser effects veer into David Guetta territory as if you can already see the disco lights and illuminated waterfront of a Serbian splav.

Thankfully, tracks like “Live Like We’re Dancing Part II” (a nod to her vocals on the Mura Masa track of the same name) carries the pop sparkle of her sophomore. And standout “Friends Will Never Let You Go” is the perfect counterpart to 2019’s “Never Let You Go,” as Georgia reflects on releasing the reins and diving into the deep end. In fact, this third studio album marks the first time we see the musician collaborating so confidently, writing alongside Justin Parker (Lana Del Ray, Rihanna) and even welcoming Grammy-award-winning producer William Orbit into the mix (“Give It Up For Love”).

Euphoric feels like an album snatching at time. Whether that’s Nineties hedonism or a moment of sweet escapism (fitting given we’ve spent two of the last four years without those sweaty dancefloors). Regardless, electronically or pounding live, Georgia’s sound remains the beating heart of that nightlife.

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Below: Watch the video for "Give It Up For Lover" by Georgia