George FitzGerald – All That Must Be

All That Must Be is a soundtrack to a pivotal moment in British producer George FitzGerald's career; it documents a period of time when FitzGerald’s decade-long stint in Berlin came to an abrupt end, seeing him back in his hometown of London. His new record is a soul-searching journey through this upheaval. This theme could come over as self-indulgent, but for the most part, FitzGerald imbues this slickly produced album with moments of genuine poignancy.

The LP starts off promisingly with the squelching, ominous Two Moons Under, whose eerie quality is amplified by a soaring vocal sample and big-room synths. Frieda deploys a similar tactic, with a haunting repetitive vocal over an urgent flow of cold percussion and keys. With its juddering bass, Burns is at once chaotic and calm; a sonic mirror reflecting a state of emotional turmoil. Siren Calls then suggests a kind of visceral transformation; an energetic four minutes of deep house that kicks and claps in all the right places.

The record also features a number of collaborators. The most successful of these joint efforts is Outgrown which was co-written by Bonobo; elsewhere, partnerships with the likes of Lil Silva and Tracey Thorn cast a pop overtone – a characteristic of FitzGerald's past productions, but here it feels overly saccharine. Ultimately, All That Must Be’s best moments are also its least contrived.

Listen to: Siren Calls, Outgrown