The land that gave us Gotye and Kimbra has now unleashed up-and-comer pop crooner Lips. From Auckland, New Zealand to Brooklyn, NY, singer/songwriter Steph Brown knows how to take a slick, sexy groove and work her voice through sometimes failed, and more times unrequited, relationships. Through a candy-coated alto not unlike Imogen Heap or Frou Frou, there’s a superficial cutesiness you’ll get fooled by, until you start really listening closely. New single ‘We Don’t Have Much Time’ sounds fun enough, but there’s an abiding sadness here as Brown deals with an infatuated love doomed to end. But then, these New Zealanders seem to have a way of dancing off any pain. Look for Lips new EP ‘Look, Listen’ available October 25. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)