Broods – Conscious, review: ‘sharp and punchy’

Although barely out of school when they released their 2014 debut, brother and sister duo Georgia and Caleb Nott adhered to a retro synth-pop sound that originally emerged well before they were born.

Their follow-up is a sharper, often punchier album that kicks off with Eighties-style anthem Free, featuring Georgia’s big, breathy vocal over cracking beats. It gets even better on Heartlines, a memorable co-write with Lorde.

But while it equals their fellow New Zealander for youthful pop potency, the collaboration also highlights the lyrical gulf between Broods and Lorde – there’s nothing on Conscious to match the provocative songwriting of Royals.