The Miltones (Self Titled) Album Review

The Miltones – The Miltones
(The Label)

Reviewed by Sarah Kidd. Bonus live images by Mike Thornton.

From the superlative opening guitar of ‘Pursed Lips’ with it’s almost country jaunt rhythm, The Miltones lead you into a world of bluesy Americana with a dash of folk rock thrown in for good measure. What began as a duo several years ago between songstress Milly Tabak and lead guitarist Liam Pratt has now grown to a fully-fledged five piece band featuring the talents of Guy Harrison and Tom Broome (Hollie Smith) and Chris Marshall (Miss June) on bass.

The album has certainly been a labour of love and is a journey through the emotions from beginning to end. ‘Carlos’ is dedicated (along with the grey heron that features in the artwork) to the memory of Milly’s father. This poignant song is beautifully understated; Tabak’s voice caressing the heartstrings with an inner thoughtfulness.

The album is produced and engineered by Ben Edwards of Lyttelton’s Sitting Room Studio’s, a man who Tabak has been quoted as saying “puts magic into the album”, and that statement certainly rings true as one listens to The Miltones second released single ‘Glory’. A powerfully stirring song in which Milly’s voice is particularly magnificent; it conjures up visions of her at the altar questioning the heavens. But it is Harrison’s keyboard playing that truly brings this song home, sweeping you up in fervent abandonment.

Milly Tabak has often been said to channel a young Stevie Nicks and at the risk of sounding repetitive she truly does embody the Fleetwood Mac deity; one moment her voice a hushed whisper, the next full of fire and passion; on ‘Firing Way’ she is just plain sultry. ‘Gypsy Queen’ is full of gusto and features a beautiful dual guitar solo that is reminiscent of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic ‘Free Bird’, Tabak’s husky vocals boldly telling the story of a woman who holds “the crystal ball high”. The album finishes with a more sombre track entitled ‘Song For A Friend’ written for a companion of Milly’s who sadly took his own life the day before the band were due to head down to Lyttelton; the song a beautiful love letter of friendship and grief that has been set sail on the summer night winds.

This first album offering combined with their outrageously fantastic live performances make for a killer combination that just cannot be ignored.