Du Blonde - Welcome Back to Milk

  by Dave Goodwin

published: 25 / 9 / 2015

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It seems at 25 years old that the Newcastle-born artist formerly known as Beth Jeans Houghton is ripping it all up and starting again by completely reinventing herself. ’Welcome Back to Milk’ is the Californian-based singer's second album and her debut as Du Blonde. Having conjured up a new name, new sound, new band and a new attitude, crikey, has she got something to say for herself. Her 2012 debut album. ‘Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose’, was a massive-sounding affair upon which it sounded as if she had employed the whole world to take part. 'Welcome Back to Milk' strips everything back a little but again remains huge in sound, and combines pent-up aggression with some neat but heavy riffs, loud drums and scary vocal snarls. While she is angry this time round, there is as a contrast a few more poignant moments that fans of Houghton's previous work will recognise from 'Yours Truly Cellophane Nose'. The bass-heavy opener ‘Black Flag’ kicks the album off and finds her snarling, “Don’t try me cos I’m not in the mood”. She has employed the talents of Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos, and ‘Welcome Back to Milk’ also has a guest appearance that Future Islands fans will go mad for as frontman Samuel T Herring also provides co-vocals on ‘My Mind is On My Mind’. To be honest, Houghton sounds well and truly racked off with it all, but as you venture tiptoeing through the tracks you become aware that ‘Welcome to the Milk’ also has some more peaceful undertones. There are some telltale signs of her previous work too both in her colorful lyrical onslaughts, and also the odd curio too such as a sudden rendition of ‘Knees Up Mother Brown’ which is sung by children at the end of ‘If You’re Legal’. It stands as testament really to the wide range she has. Houghton can dash from the sweetest of melodies to a proper shit-producing snarl and back again without batting a false-lashed eyelid. She has a wonderful, subtle singing voice and a range to die for. It’s not Mariah, but then it doesn't need to be. The more placid moments on here are particularly good, ‘Four in the Morning’ finds her waking up with the right one. ‘After the Show’ in contrast describes the ending of a stormy relationship, while ‘Hunter’ is a strange affair, finding her reflecting on an old flame’s new romance. On the flip side to this there is ‘Chips to Go’, which has her almost shouting and features some seriously hard riffs. On the whole this is a likable debut for Du Blonde or Beth Jeans Houghton as she used to be known. I don’t think it matters what her name is, just don't upset her. The inner booklet houses all the lyrics and some fine photography by the lady herself while the cover image was taken by Tommy Chavannes.

Track Listing:-

1 Black Flag
2 Chips To Go
3 Raw Honey
4 After The Show
5 If You're Legal
6 Hunter
7 Hard To Please
8 Young Entertainment
9 Mr. Hyde
10 Four In The Morning
11 Mind Is On My Mind
12 Isn't It Wild

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/DuBlondeOfficial
http://www.dublonde.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/dublondemusic

Label Links:-

http://mute.com/
https://www.facebook.com/muterecords
https://twitter.com/MuteUK
https://www.youtube.com/user/themutechannel

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