On June 24, Broods released their new album, Conscious, on Capitol Records. Their sophomore effort shows them to be largely original. Their usual electronica sound still mostly stands out from the crowd.
Broods’ singer, Georgia Nott, has a way of singing that’s both breathy and resilient. Her voice has an evocative quality that’s beautiful. Bits of “Free” have the strength of Sinead O’Connor while Nott’s voice becomes ethereal on “Freak of Nature,” which plays her voice over a sparser music line of percussion and strings. She’s equally fairy-like while completely bare on “All of Your Glory” which is just vocals over synth.
Some songs have a real splendor to them. “Full Blown Love” is full of happiness and “Are You Home” evokes Dido in its lyrics of bad decisions and regret. “Heartlines,” written with Lorde, has an eerie quality and the album ends on “Conscious.” It’s an emotional piece about finding safety in the love of another and its celestial chorus leaves a void when it finishes.
Other songs seem to play to the mainstream. “We had Everything” and “Hold the Line” are more pop than indie or alternative. “Recovery” would be popular in night clubs with its dance beat over modern synthesizer. The song “Worth the Fight” seems to be a step down. It’s a typical pop ballad that feels unoriginal and boring.
While some songs bring the bar down a bit, overall Conscious is an appealing album, ideal for late nights at home with a glass of wine and someone you love. Broods continue to tread through an ocean of pop music and still come out on top.