Defiantly proclaiming "I'd lose everything so I can sing," Georgia Nott opens
Broods' sophomore album,
Conscious, with a bang. As the tribal drums kick in, synths droning with a menacing determination, it's clear that this effort is a huge evolution for the sibling duo of Georgia and Caleb Nott. Released two years after their introspective breakthrough debut,
Conscious elevates the pair from the electro-indie sidelines occupied by
Vaults and
MisterWives and into major-player
Chvrches territory. The melodies are catchier, the beats hit harder, and the energy is palpable, leaps and bounds above the moody, downtempo
Evergreen. Once again produced by
Joel Little (
Lorde,
Sam Smith,
Ellie Goulding),
Conscious is the sound of confidence and maturity.
The Notts have had time to develop their songcraft -- guesting with
Troye Sivan and
Jarryd James, touring with
Smith and
Goulding -- and it's apparent, much like
Goulding's own major pop leap to
Delirium. Lead single "Free" was the first indicator, exploring an edgy scope that
the Notts hadn't come close to on their debut. The yearning and breezy follow-up single "Couldn't Believe" is another highlight, sparkling with similar energy to
Chvrches' "Clearest Blue" from 2015's
Every Open Eye. Fellow Kiwi
Lorde lends her alt-pop golden touch to "Heartlines," while
Tove Lo infuses "Freak of Nature" with melodrama.
Evergreen fans will delight in the slow burn of "Bedroom Door," the droning "Hold the Line," and the mellow "All of Your Glory," however those brief plaintive moments yield to the cheerfully liberated spirit of the bulk of the album. On the closing title track, the bass booms and Georgia warns to "wait for the explosion." Although in the context of the song it's a tortured plea, it might as well be a rallying cry for the entire album.
Conscious builds upon the promise of their debut and goes well beyond with a tight vision of a glimmering pop future for
the Notts. ~ Neil Z. Yeung