In 2023, KOSMETIKA‘s “Illustration” embraced a DIY and duo approach. However, things have changed with their third album, “Luxury” (Spoilsport). The band now has five members and chose a proper studio with professional staff.
The result is a nuanced, playful, and layered work. The starting point is always garage pop, from which they branch out in all directions. This approach often works quite well, delivering an organic result.
“Kosmetika Strikes Back” kicks off the album with a genuine hit. It’s a smart choice to open the record with such a bold, catchy garage pop track that takes on krautrock dimensions. Following this, the Australian band continues to impress.
Sometimes they lean more towards punk, other times towards art rock. They consistently return to poppy sounds, even when starting a song with rich space rock elements, as seen in “Pictures Are Gone.”
The psychedelically drifting “Mirror” is fantastic, and the frenetic “Automobile” is captivating. Changing their approach has certainly paid off here.
KOSMETIKA – Luxury: Garage pop in many flavors. – RIFL