Lili Refrain | Greet
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
April 2nd 2026
Lili Refrain brings the crowd together with a hypnotic set of ritualistic psychedelia. Andy Brown is there to soak it all in for Louder Than War.
It was 2022’s Mana album – her fifth full-length release – that first drew my attention to Italian experimentalist Lili Refrain. An uncanny – and distinctly ritualistic – blend of electronic innovation and vocal prowess. The recently released Nagalite sees Refrain continue to plough her own furrow with a transformative album of esoteric electronics. It’s a real dark gem and yet further evidence of an artist in ascendence. All of this bodes well for tonight’s headline show at the iconic Brudenell Social Club.
The first thing I notice is the harmonium, sitting at the front of the stage and decorated with a wicker mask. Yes, the folk horror vibes are strong with Leeds-based artist Matthew Broadley AKA Greet. A heady drone and the smell of incense gradually fill the room. The chatter soon stops, and the crowd, gathered in a semicircle like some faithful congregation, stand in silent appreciation. As if responding to the magic emanating from the stage, the wicker mask is now flooded with light.
Broadley’s voice is strong and true; his music beautiful in its naked simplicity. A little percussion is introduced, and we’re drawn ever deeper into his world. “Now I see what the seer sees,” he sings over the droning dreamscape like some quiet yet profound revelation. The songs feel like hopeful forest hymnals; harmonium drones for a better tomorrow. Along with acts like Wire Worms, Greet is part of a dark folk revival in Leeds. Thankfully – as far as I can tell – ritual sacrifice won’t be necessary.
With red and blue lighting straight from Suspiria, a couple of guitars, a floor tom and a table chock full of electronics, the stage is set for Lili Refrain. Suddenly, the music over the PA stops, and we hear the sound of a bell jingling from the back of the room; I turn around to see the singer making her way to the stage. Her smiling face painted and ready for the show, ready to embrace the sonic ritual that lies ahead. She certainly has our attention.
Raising drum sticks above her head, the room is hit by an unexpectedly intense jolt of sound. A moment’s silence before another burst reverberates through the room. Just picture that scene in Jurassic Park as ripples appear in a cup of water. Something is coming. Sounds are looped and layered, and we soon move from something sparse and foreboding to an immersive wave of psychedelicised electronics. Refrain’s vocals are absolutely captivating, and the whole thing feels like some kind of celestial opera.
Each song is built piece-by-piece, as Refrain marries club-like intensity with primal drums and mesmeric, otherworldly wailing. Songs like Nagal find her adding guitar to the mix with a hypnotic blend of eastern scales, prog-like shredding and doom metal. Terra – on the other hand – has a synth sound that would have made Angelo Badalamenti weep tears of joy. The music is given room to breathe and is certainly unshackled from restrictive and formulaic ideas of structure. What’s more, Refrain is clearly pouring her heart and soul into every moment.
Whether through eye contact or explaining her live looping process via a delightfully absurd demonstration, Refrain is here to make a genuine connection with the crowd. This isn’t just something to watch and consume but a ritual, a gathering and a communal experience. A moment in time to grasp onto. Tonight’s set feels cathartic, euphoric and wholly immersive. When she lifts her devil horns aloft during a satisfyingly crunchy guitar part in Travellers, you can really feel that sense of release. Impressively, it’s a song that also manages to channel The Exorcist. Nice.
Refrain describes Earthling as a song about “connection and memories… because sometimes we forget completely that we live on the same planet.” It’s a sentiment that feels particularly pertinent here in 2026. As if to illustrate her point, she heads out into the crowd and – beaming from ear to ear – sings into our souls. Stopping in front of people – including myself – to briefly make that all important connection. The huge and emphatic applause that follows the show feels entirely justified. What an incredible performance.
~
You can find Lili Refrain on Bandcamp, Instagram and Facebook.
Greet is on Bandcamp and Instagram.
Photos by Neil Chapman (Unholy Racket). You can visit his author profile for Louder Than War and find him on Facebook and Instagram.
All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War HERE.
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