‘Seeking Thrills’ is the second record from producer and vocalist Georgia Barnes, and it’s a road trip powered by juddering synths and electro beats, stopping off at Detroit techno, Chicago house and Scandi pop. She has a singing voice that is playful and versatile, and a way with production that is detailed in terms of both technical prowess and deep musicality.
High points include the confusingly titled About Work The Dancefloor, a track that could have been penned for Robyn, but with added robo-voices that add a thrillingly sinister pop hook. In certain ways this is the song that captures the millennial zeitgeist most clearly with its anxious messaging and lyrical non-sequiturs.
Indeed, ahead of the album, the west Londoner has quit meat, alcohol, drugs, coffee and gluten, theoretically giving herself a greater focus and work ethic.
The resulting work is frequently strong. Both Feel It and Ray Guns are bratty pop tunes that recall MIA and Let’s Eat Grandma, while 24 Hours is an electro ballad that sounds ready made for a Radio 1 playlist. That said, this track uncovers a more uncomfortable truth about ‘Seeking Thrills’ as a whole.
Though loaded with hooks, 24 Hours does not have the melodic touch-points or sweetness that its foundation chords and general sound demand. It actually feels like Georgia’s production and commercial priorities are getting in the way of solid songwriting, with memorable motifs favoured over more distinct, interesting and potentially idiosyncratic writing.
While ‘Seeking Thrills’ is dotted with undeniably well thought out retro electro-pop, the reality is that there is a lot of this stuff about. La Roux re-invigorated a sound (premiered by Les Rythmes Digitales) with 2014’s ‘Trouble in Paradise’, while in the past year alone we have seen similar albums from Shura, Bat For Lashes and—to a certain extent—Sigrid. It’s a crowded space and while ‘Seeking Thrills’ holds its own, it is likely not an album that will live that long in the memory.
Georgia Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue March 03 2020 - CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
Wed March 04 2020 - GLASGOW King Tuts
Thu March 05 2020 - MANCHESTER YES (Pink Room)
Fri March 06 2020 - LIVERPOOL Jacaranda Phase One
Sat March 07 2020 - DUBLIN Green Room at The Academy
Mon March 09 2020 - LEEDS Brudenell Community Room
Tue March 10 2020 - BIRMINGHAM Mama Roux's
Wed March 11 2020 - BRISTOL Thekla
Thu March 12 2020 - LONDON Heaven
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