New Zealand seven-piece The Brunettes have been around for quite some time now, but lately they have been subject to some extra attention. Signing to a label like Sub Pop will do that to a band though, and it is usually well deserved.
Structure and Cosmetics is packed with cute pop melodies, with Heather Mansfield and Jonathan Bree in front making the tunes sound twice as compelling as they would have otherwise.
It is weird though, songs like ‘Stereo (Mono Mono)’ are so damn cute that you almost cannot bear listening to it to begin with. Admittedly though, it is kind of clever when you get over how annoying it was the first time you heard it. And with Mansfield sounding like an innocent little girl version of Nico in If You Were Alien, they are close to sweet pop perfection. If only there could be more of these. But after a slow start,
Structure and Cosmetics finishes off in style with an irresistible second half. If you are making a mixtape for your loved one, there should be plenty to choose from here.