Younger Brother

Younger Brother

Younger Brother is a United Kingdom electronic group formed in 2003 by Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan. Posford is also known for Hallucinogen and Shpongle, while Vaughan also records as Prometheus and The Zap! The group’s name comes from an indigenous Colombian tribe, the Kogi, who call themselves “Elder Brothers” and describe people from western societies as “Younger Brothers”; the band writes its first song for that tribe.

Releases and style

The duo’s debut album, A Flock of Bleeps, appears on Posford’s Twisted Records in 2003 and develops a cult following in underground electronica circles. Their second album, The Last Days of Gravity, also releases on Twisted Records and enters the broader live circuit, helping the group draw large crowds in cities including London, Tokyo, New York and across Australia.

After this period, Younger Brother tours as a five-piece band. The live line-up includes Ru Campbell on vocals, Marc Brownstein on bass, Tommy Hamilton on guitar and Joe Russo on drums. In November 2008 the full band records the next album at Assault and Battery Studios in north London.

Later albums

The third studio album, Vaccine, is released in 2011 and adds Ru Campbell as a member. His vocals are central to the record, and the track “Train” becomes one of the group’s signature pieces. In 2014 the band releases Vaccine Electronic, a fourth studio album that reworks material from Vaccine with a stronger electronica emphasis and a sound aimed toward Hallucinogen listeners and those who favour A Flock of Bleeps.

Younger Brother is described as working in chillout, electronic, psybient and psytrance, with related associations to psychedelic and psychill styles. The group remains active.