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With neither the understated wit and charm of Belle and Sebastian, or the high octane bubblegum sharpness of The Chalets, The Brunettes seem to fall awkwardly between two stools, and where they should be a glossy brown, end up mousey beige instead.
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“
With neither the understated wit and charm of Belle and Sebastian, or the high octane bubblegum sharpness of The Chalets, The Brunettes seem to fall awkwardly between two stools, and where they should be a glossy brown, end up mousey beige instead.
”
Structure and Cosmetics- The Brunettes
The opening track of Structure and Cosmetics, Brunettes against Bubblegum Youth promises much beyond the usual high-cheek boned and red lipstick androgyny of indie twee pop, but sadly, the rest of the album by boy/girl Kiwi combo The Brunettes, fails to live up to the glam rock credentials of its B A B Y BE MY BABY playground chorus.
There are a few stand out tracks; Her Hairagami Set, which counterpoints the knowing oriental-style vocals of Heather Mansfield against the sotto voce wistfulness of Jonathan Bree; the aforementioned cheerleader bounce of brunettes against bubblegum youth, and the album’s eponymous closer, a Morricone-inspired tune over which Bree borrows heavily from Lou Reed in his deadpan delivery of lyrics: lyrics that encompass both diamond patterned fever socks and voodoo dollies; truly a song that Prefab Sprout would have been proud of. Otherwise, the album is just the same old same old; the ubiquitous boy girl indie-lite, largely insipid and never far from leaving an unpleasant aftertaste in your mouth.
With neither the understated wit and charm of Belle and Sebastian, or the high octane bubblegum sharpness of The Chalets, The Brunettes seem to fall awkwardly between two stools, and where they should be a glossy brown, end up mousey beige instead.
Words: Cold Ethyl