Georgia's self-titled 2015 debut was a fresh, creative mixture of several left-field pop, post-punk, and electronic styles, filled with busy percussive arrangements and direct, passionate lyrics. Since that curiously underappreciated album's release, she's made guest appearances on full-lengths by
Suicideyear and
Africa Express, and issued a few singles that signaled a shift towards a more club-friendly direction. With
Seeking Thrills, she recaptures everything that made her become obsessed with dance music -- not just the addictive rhythms and immersive, ear-catching electronic tones, but the wide range of feelings evoked by the songs. Tunes like "About Work the Dancefloor" (easily her catchiest song yet) demonstrate how the urge to lose one's self at the club is just as strong as falling in love with someone. While that track is glittery synth-disco on par with
Robyn's best, the equally compelling "Never Let You Go" is a racing new wave number with the force of a full band.
Shygirl guests on the slow, woozy "Mellow," which revisits the angular rhythms and deadpan vocals of the more grime-influenced tracks on
Georgia's debut. "Feel It" is in a similar mode but more electrified, with tripped-up beats, surging bass synths, and distorted screams. "Ultimate Sailor" is a momentary step into a
Kate Bush-like dreamworld, preceding the empowering sci-fi pop of "Ray Guns" and the yearning house euphoria of "The Thrill." Like the first
Georgia album,
Seeking Thrills is a sophisticated, emotionally complex pop effort that seems to encapsulate the London native's life experiences to date.