Album Review: George FitzGerald – Not As I

Vivid, Ambient and Peaceful

English electronic musician George FitzGerald released his newest EP Not As I on June 9. The four-track EP contains some soothing and melodic house tunes that are pleasing to the ear. According to Clash Magazine, FitzGerald wanted to revisit the calmer and more intimate part of his sound. He wanted to stray away from the “nervous energy and maximalist sound design” of his past works. This goal was certainly fulfilled, as this EP provides listeners with a peaceful and minimalistic, yet vivid sound. 

The first track, “Mother,” starts off with a soft yet bouncy repeated synth line. SYML’s gentle, dulcet vocals pair well with the instrumentals heard throughout this tune. The mood shifts slightly at the halfway point, and gradually builds back up into the chorus, with the addition of high-pitched synth sounds heard in the background. This track has a very cinematic vibe, and it’s easy to visualize it being played in a film.

The next track, “Venera,” has a much different feel than the opening track. It immediately provides the listener with a great sense of wideness, as pulsing, reverberant synth chords make an entrance. The word “you” echoes from ear to ear, and the groove suddenly changes when a soft drumbeat comes in. There are plenty of interesting sounds heard throughout this track, including some telephone-like synthesizer noises and choppy, sixteenth-note-based harmonies.

The title track initially begins with some beautiful ambient chords, before quickly shifting into a slightly mechanical yet funky beat. There are some spaced-out, airy vocal lines that are heard from start to finish and they add to the overall atmosphere of the piece very well. Even though the listener can’t quite understand the lyrics, the vocals still provide some texture and the tune would feel like it’s missing something without them.

The final track, “All Roads,” contains some ethereal and dramatic chords with long attacks. These accordion-like chords make way for some shrieking glissandos and a bass-heavy drum beat. For a few moments, there is a quiet piano section that transitions back into the main melody and certain instruments drop out as the tune approaches the end. 

FitzGerald undoubtedly manages to create a refreshing new sound for this EP. Although Not As I is a short project, it successfully establishes the mood he was aiming for.