The first release from this New Zealand sibling duo -- teenagers Georgia and Caleb Nott -- is an EP-length prelude to their debut album. Like fellow Auckland native
Lorde's
Pure Heroine,
Broods was produced by
Joel Little. It offers six songs of taut and moody, evocative, yet somewhat distant ruminations on various degrees of heartache; the Notts certainly live up to the dual meaning of their clever stage name. The emotional depth, grace, and flexibility of Georgia's voice belie her years, while Caleb's background vocals are applied with a touch as crafty as
Little's array of synthesizer textures. Most of the songs are up to the standard set by the alluring "Bridges," the duo's introductory song and the EP's centerpiece. ~ Andy Kellman