Broods at Electrowerkz

Hailing from the city of Nelson on New Zealand’s South Island, Broods consists of singer Georgia Nott and her multi-instrumentalist brother Caleb. Aiming to build an international following to match that which has granted them considerable chart success on Antipodean shores, the duo brought their blend of trip-hop beats and sultry vocals to the narrow confines of a room on the ground floor of Islington’s Electrowerkz.  

Though cramped (a sizeable section of the capacity audience elected to watch through the rear door from the relative comfort of the hallway outside), the sparse decor and grungy industrial atmosphere of the venue made it a good match for the glitchy electro soundscapes that Broods conjure. The pair’s usual array of synths and sequencers were bolstered by the live drumming of a percussionist identified only as Ben, and it was with the air of a three-pronged sonic assault that brooding opener Conscious, the title track from their soon-to-be-released sophomore album, was sent skittering out from the small stage.  

Songs from the forthcoming long player dominated the early part of the show and suggested something of a darker, moodier edge than the more overt indie-disco of debut Evergreen. Corralling an impressive range of loops both rhythmic and melodic into quick-stepping harmony, Caleb supported and embellished his sister’s fragile yet precise vocal performance to hypnotic effect, with songs such as Everytime and Bedroom Door attaining poppy-perfection through this pattern. Despite the electronic wizardry on display, the biggest buzzes of recognition from the partisan crowd were felt in response to slower, sparser arrangements such as Pretty Thing and Four Walls, which threw Georgia’s line in yearning lyrics to the fore. When a technical problem left Caleb unable to contribute to anthemic ballad Bridges, those assembled were treated to an impromptu version featuring Georgia alone on keyboard, in which the passion in her voice reached such heights as to mark it out as a real highlight of the set.

An able display of the band’s ability to set hearts soaring and toes tapping, the performance ended with the up-tempo swagger of Couldn’t Believe and the distinct suggestion that Broods will be a feature on Britain’s charts and dance floors this summer.

Stuart Boyland
Photos: Erol Birsen

For further information about Broods and future events visit here.

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