The Brunettes have long been warming the cockles of fan’s hearts. A revelation simply by doing everything right, the Auckland based outfi t combine with panache their male-female vocals, chugging guitars, playful keyboards and glorious harmonies into songs with wings.

Fronted by the cute-as-pie Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield, the New Zealand seven-piece first toured Australia in 2003, playing an abundance of shows with Architecture in Helsinki in promoting their fi rst album Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks (2002).
Since then they have toured almost annually.

In 2005 the Shins asked them to join them on the road in the US, which lead to other invitations to tour the US by Rilo Kiley and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and ultimately a record deal with Sub Pop Records. While The Brunettes have established themselves as experts of short, sweet pop songs, the tracks on this new record Structure and Cosmetics stretch a bit longer, striving towards deeper melodic goals.

Full of charisma, their tunes will pull you in at fi rst, wooing with their pretty visage, while below the bubbly surface sit their innovations. Or rather, to quote the title, the cosmetics may grab you straight off, but the depth of structure reveals itself more with every listen.

Twee-riffic magic...watch as the Brunettes vie with the Long Blondes and Blonde Redhead in 2006 for sovereignty - PITCHFORK