Manchester, England's bring together all of their influences -- from synthy dance-rock to polished adult-contemporary pop to experimental electronica -- on their ambitious fourth album, 2020's . Produced by lead singer and drummer , the record feels like a companion piece to , with songs that shift styles throughout the album. One of the most inspired moments comes right away with "The 1975," an ever-evolving self-titled track that the group rework on each album. This time, the spare electronic production frames a spoken-word essay read by Swedish teenage environmental activist , whose heartfelt call to action on climate change offers a moving introduction. The tracks that follow are intriguingly eclectic. We get the ersatz industrial of "People" a la '90s . The dewy, near-acoustic folk ballad "The Birthday Party'' finds in a poignant duet with . Then there's the straight-up shoegaze guitars of "Then Because She Goes," the digital electronica track "Frail State of Mind," the shimmery pop/rock of "Me & You Together Song" -- the list goes on. There are also a handful of instrumental tracks that break things up, drawing on a mix of orchestral ambiance and '90s experimental electronica. Many of these songs are gorgeously crafted. "The Birthday Party" in particular spotlights 's ability to convey seemingly earnest and diaristically candid emotions. Of course, this kind of self-aware, implicitly obvious experimentation has been at the core of the band's identity since . That said, there's also one song on the record that sounds exactly like it could have appeared on the group's 2013 debut. The witty "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)" sparkles with '80s nostalgia and gratuitous sax solos. ~ Matt Collar