Best New Music: Balu Brigada “Backseat”

After a string of singles sporting eerily similar cover art, New Zealand alt-pop band Balu Brigada has officially announced their debut album, Portal, out Aug. 29 via Atlantic Records/Warner Australia. To mark the reveal, “Backseat” is the latest single off Portal that reaffirms the duo’s commitment to reinventing themselves, whether it’s 70s glitz or bursts of rock.

Contrary to the previously released Portal songs, “Backseat” is an uncompromising mini-odyssey where the track announces itself with a hypnotic rhythm reminiscent of EDM. However, uniquely, it’s used as a foundation for the two to build up a disco-inspired dance all about the desperate need for company by any means necessary.

Every time Balu Brigada switches up the sound of “Backseat” while keeping the song’s sprawling nature throughout its runtime, they dig deeper into a seemingly doomed romance through lines in the chorus and pre-chorus like “I don’t even like your company / I just wanted you to comfort me.”

For Henry and Pierre Beasely, the brothers behind Balu Brigada, they show just how much they’re willing to push what they can accomplish in one track. Although they find a groove in the first half of “Backseat,” they literally take a backseat vocally and let their electronic production steal the spotlight.

What follows is an achievement in their nearly 10-year career, bringing to the table an offering from Portal that’s shaping to be their best piece of music yet.

See Balu Brigada in LA at The Fonda Theatre on Oct. 9.

Visit Balu Brigada on Instagram and their website to stay updated on new releases and tour dates.

Listen to “Backseat” the new single from Balu Brigada below!