Stroud punk band Milk Teeth release second album today

The self titled album was recorded at The Ranch in Southampton with Neil Kennedy.

Milk Teeth are Becky Blomfield (vocals / bass), Em Foster (guitar) and Jack Kenny (drums).

“It’s not political in the traditional sense,” said Becky of Milk Teeth’s second album.

“There were definitely politics involved in my surroundings when the album was being made.

“It also touches on the implications of feminism and women’s rights in my life. I guess you could say it’s more about the politics of self.”

This new album almost didn’t happen.

By early 2018, with a full-length debut (2016’s Vile Child) and three EPs to their name, singer/bassist Becky was starting to feel disillusioned.

Despite becoming the chief songwriter of the Stroud punk rockers during their six-year career, she’d lost confidence in her role and was unsure what to do next.

“I’d got to a place where I didn’t think my opinion was valid,” said Becky.

“But then I decided I needed to write about the things that had been so difficult during that period, personally and professionally, in order to take the band forward.”

This new chapter in Milk Teeth’s story was reinforced by changes to the band’s line up, with Em Foster being announced as a full-time member in September 2018.

And with the addition of Gold Key drummer Jack Kenny, Milk Teeth became a trio.

“We didn’t want to do anything we couldn’t recreate live,” said Becky of the process of working with regular producer Neil Kennedy, who oversaw the band’s 10 days at The Ranch studio in Southampton.

“It was minimal, as opposed to the big-budget sounding production Milk Teeth had before.

"It wasn’t to disrespect anything we’d done with Neil before, but I felt our last couple of releases had gone done a more commercialised route.

"I wouldn’t say we’ve done a 360, we’ve just gone back to drawing from our early days and the sound we started with, those original influences like Nirvana, Pixies, Manic Street Preachers, Smashing Pumpkins and Skunk Anansie.”

Those inspirations can be heard in the track Better, the first song written for the record, though not one Becky finds particularly easy to discuss given that it’s about the difficult period she had been in.

“It’s about being let down and emotionally abused and reaching a point where you’re like ‘No, I can’t do this anymore – I do deserve better’.

"Weirdly there’s an element of the classic love song to it, as well. It has this sense of empowerment that I think comes across on the new album.”

As well as following Better on the tracklisting, Transparent deals with the period that came next, sounding considerably brighter and breezier as a result.

“It’s the other side of the coin,” said Becky.

“It’s facing a different direction.

"It took a long time to build myself back up and not feel miniscule, so it’s more like ‘I’m not going to be taken for a mug!’”

Another track, Medicine, was musically inspired by Becky’s love of the film Donnie Darko and its accompanying eighties soundtrack.

Medicine was written during a difficult time in her relationship.

“Me and my partner almost split up. He went out to work and I stayed in the flat we lived in and the song just fell out, like it was meant to be there.”

Sharks is Becky’s downbeat account of being an odd one out in a group.

“Sad song, happy tune,” she said.

The band continues to work with a number of groups and causes, including raising money for Solidarity Not Silence, helping women defend themselves against a claim of defamation made against them by a well-known musician, and Beat, the UK’s leading charity supporting those affected by eating disorders.

The band also trialled self-care sessions for fans during their last UK tour.

“It’s a dedicated time space where fans can come and speak to one another or have some quiet time if that’s what they’d rather do, or they can bring materials to be creative,” said Becky.

“It’s our way to give back to fans.

"So is this album, which I hope features themes that resonate with listeners and help them recognise things in their own life that show they’re not alone in that situation and, quite possibly, make a positive change as a result. This album is for them.”

See: milkteethpunx.com/