New Milk single ‘Loaded Dice’ occupies the same sonic space as the rest of the band’s lauded Borderlands album. It builds from the faint flurries of the intro strings to a rousing and defiant brass solo, exemplifying their brand of widescreen cinematic soul.
The lyrics tackle the band’s bewilderment in how good people, get morally incarcerated by their blind allegiances to political forces and ideologies when they are demonstrably damaging to their own lives and beyond. It’s the soundtrack antithesis to a growing and worrying right-wing agenda.
The accompanying video continues with the montage B-roll theme which was established on the band’s previous intercut with live footage from last autumn’s tour. Watch below.
Borderlands features outstanding songwriting, deftly served by extraordinary musicianship, mixed with ambitious arrangements and world class production. A lovingly crafted sonic memoir, it fuses The Milk’s love of ‘60s soul with elements of modern funk and jazz, choral harmonies reminiscent of Kamasi Washington and Michael Kiwanuka, augmented by sweeping horns, lush strings, and in-the-pocket grooves.
From the opening Pearl & Dean-nodding blast of ‘I Need Your Love’ to the Elvis-in-Vegas-styled showstopper of closing track ‘I Saved My Best For You’, Borderlands takes you on a grand, kaleidoscopic journey. One that encompasses the widescreen cinematic soul of ‘Destiny Calling’ and ‘Loaded Dice’ alongside ‘The Middle’s Sinatra-esque big band swing; the lush, Beach Boys-like fantasia conjured up by the title track; and ‘Pangs Of Love’ – an epic wall of sound where The Isleys collide with David Axelrod.
With orchestra, brass and the distinct, dramatic bursts of choir that tie all these tracks together, bringing an elevated sense of grandeur, it’s a record of a scale and ambition you rarely hear these days. All lit by a warm, analogue glow. Indeed, you might find yourself flipping it over in your hands to check that it was recorded this century, and not cut at Capitol or STAX with a crack team of ‘60s session men.
The Milk comprises lifelong friends Rick Nunn (vocal, keys), Mitch Ayling (drums), Luke Ayling (bass), and Dan Le Gresley (guitar). With a shared devotion, passion, and obsession for music, since their school days they have been crafting elegant and timeless soul-inspired albums. Borderlands is the greatest realisation yet of their collective aspiration to create something uniquely their own.
Produced by drummer Mitch Ayling, Borderlands was recorded at Woods Lodge Studio with the band playing every track live in the room together, and mastered on vintage analog equipment by Lewis Durham at Durham Sound Studios.
TOUR DATES
12 June Bodega, Nottingham
13 June Rough Trade, Bristol
20 June District, Liverpool
26 June The Belgrave, Leeds
27 June Rum Shack, Glasgow
11 July Gent Jazz Festival, Belgium
18 July Bish Bash Festival
30 October The Garage, London
In Episode #243 of the XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar chats with Rick Nunn — vocalist and guitarist of The Milk — about the band’s powerful new album Borderlands.
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