Sheffield may have a heritage for all things electronic in the music stakes but over the last couple of years the city has enjoyed a real resurgence for band culture following in the blazing trail of The Arctic Monkeys. It’s a double edged sword though because as a result of this any other bands who find themselves treading an even remotely similar path are going to be dogged by the inevitable comparisons.
Milburn are one such band, and in fairness on the first listen the similarities are glaringly obvious. Both bands have an obvious guitar heritage and it doesn’t take the keenest ear in the world to hear the obvious geographical similarities between Alex Turner and Milburn frontman Joe Carnall.
Keep digging below these surface issues and you will find some differences between the two bands though. Milburn’s first long player ‘These Are The Facts’ is another facet to new wave of bands coming out of the steel city.
While maintaining the infectious power pop sensibilities of their forebears this album has a slightly grittier dirtier edge to it. It doesn’t suffer for having less of a sheen either, Carnell’s songs are distinctly rooted in the kitchen sink dramas we are now familiar with from such offerings but there are greater nods to bands of yesteryear than you would normally find. Evidence of this is present in the harmonisations and stylings on songs like ‘Summertime’ while there is a dark and morose mood settling into place in other songs like ‘Sinking Ships’. Elsewhere there are even shades of Liverpudlian Psych Rock on the jaunty offerings ‘Cowboys & Indians’ and ‘Being A Rogue’ which wouldn’t sound out of place on an album by The Coral.
As a whole it’s an accomplished and pleasing album, and one you should go into with your ears wide open. Don’t make the mistake of lumping this bunch in with their forebears. Milburn deserve to shine in their own right.
