2014 Favourites: The Music (Part Five)

2) Broods 'Evergreen'

Brother-sister duo Broods are probably the least known act featured on my list of 2014's album favourites, to an Irish audience at least. I discovered the Kiwi sensation early last year on YouTube when Bridges their debut single went semi-viral. Now, two major record deals and a spectacular full-length album later Caleb and Georgia Nott have managed to create a really good buzz for themselves worldwide.

The record itself is largely electro fuelled and remains alternative indie-pop throughout. Brimming with easy hooks and a pristine production there is a timelessness and maturity from it that you wouldn't expect from two musicians in their early, early twenties.

(Photo via www.undertheradar.co.nz)

Evergreen is full of interesting combinations. Growing up in a largely musical household, each sibling is a distinctive artist in their own right. Without letting this contrast of talent make things messy or confusing both musicians successfully play to their individual strengths. They don't lose that magic that makes them each unique, it's refreshing to see.

There's a real intelligence in their song writing, it's both abstract and literal. One sibling is simplistic, expressive and tells it for what it is while the other writes music somewhat abstract and complex. Together this sort of structured creativity really thrives. The duo's subtle differences really work in their favour and I really enjoyed the variation it brought to the record.

Another striking dynamic evident in this album is its inventive mix of both sadness and positivity. The instrumentation on uptempo tracks like Everytime is infectious, there's heavy, rhythmic beats with energetic synth arrangements. Whereas the lyrics then are dark and melancholic like what you'd typically find on a ballad. There's a sense of irony almost, but it creates this really diverse sound.

(Photo via www.radiobigboy.com)

Georgia sings the majority of the record herself, while Caleb looks after the production. A sparse, shadowy sound noticeable on the second half of Evergreen which really allows Georgia's vocals to take centre stage. Her voice is infatuating, so emotion heavy and haunting. It's one of the many stand-outs of the record. Nonetheless Caleb's vocals aren't to be overlooked, I really like when he pitches in on Pretty Thing it adds a great momentum and builds up to the explosive chorus, the fact that this particular song isn't even included on the LP showcases how superb the material we are given is.

This album really resonated with me. It explores coming of age and reluctant independence. The difficulty of becoming an adult in today's society is a struggle we all go through and it's tough finding your place and own identity.

Tracks like Never Gonna Change and Sober ache with young love and heartache, exposing this vulnerability that's easy to for us the listener to relate to and identify with.

Call me depressing but sometimes it can be soothing to wallow in misery, after all it sounds so beautiful when it's put to music like this. Broods, as their name suggests are quite moody. Evergreen comprises almost solely of sad songs, but to their credit sad songs never sounded so good.

Favourite tracks: Everytime, Coatails, Sleep Baby Sleep, L.A.F, Medicine