Energetic Pop-Duo Broods Enchants with “Evergreen”

Broods is a new and exciting electronic-pop duo featuring the talents of vocalist Georgia Nott and her brother Caleb Nott, multi-instrumentalist. This brother and sister pair hail from Auckland, New Zealand, and debuted their first album “Evergreen” on Oct. 7, 2014. The duet was formally in a group called The Peasants, winning a competition in their early years for intermediate junior high and high school acts in 2011. The Peasants, however, were short lived, and soon after, Georgia and her brother formed Broods and linked with producer Joel little. Little has worked with the likes of teen sensation and Auckland native Lorde. In 2013, Broods uploaded their popular hit “Bridges” onto their SoundCloud page where it instantly gained recognition and various major label contracts, even landing a spot on iTunes free download of the week. Broods’ “Bridges” EP debuted at number 164 on the Billboard 200, gaining a notable start, all with the use of a piano and the smooth voice of then 19-year-old Georgia.

“Evergreen” is their first full-length album, and it doesn’t disappoint. Eerily reminiscent of the vocals of Lorde and R&B artist Banks, Georgia’s vocals are sultry and sweet.  All of the songs on Evergreen are eclectic and edgy, filled with passionate melodies and rhythmic hooks that are often gentle, but striking. Some of the standout tracks include “Medicine,” “LAF,” “Mother and Father,” “Superstar” and “Never Gonna Change.”  The haunting and somber “Medicine” is a surprising effort from Georgia.  “Evergreen” is also a contender for best on the album; the track offers a pulsating beat and a rich sound landscape.  “LAF” is a fun, catchy song about the joys of young love. “Four walls” is also an impressive work; Georgia serenades her audience on this track and is able to capture the emotion of unrequited love and all its low points. The faster tempo songs on the album include “Superstar” and “Mother and Father,” which are both beguiling and relatable.

While there weren’t any bad tracks on the album, some of the tracks did not stand out as well as others. “Sober” and “Killing You” seemed a bit repetitive, and “Every Time” seemed out of place amongst the subdued slower ballads – it had more of an angsty sensation to it. Overall, though, the album is a praiseworthy effort from these newcomers. It has a very distinctive feel, and most of the songs are effervescent and light. This album is an easy listen, and it shows a mature start for Broods.