The Milk and Honey Band – Dog Eared Moonlight

Given the abundance of truly great British rock, it’s all too easy to overlook some of the year’s best music. I nearly did just that with The Milk & Honey Band’s new album, Dog Eared Moonlight.

Having missed the band’s other offerings (1994’s Round the Sun, a Robert White studio project, and 2001’s Boy From the Moon), I had only a dim idea of what to expect when popping the CD in. I made the unfortunate mistake of listening to it for the first time in my car while on a long drive. It quickly became clear that this is not the type of music you throw on in the background and only half-listen to. This is an album you play on a quiet night in with a glass of wine and an open mind.

It’s not that you need to be prepared for something completely revolutionary. On the contrary, Dog Eared Moonlight feels comfortable and easygoing while presenting ten truly impressive songs. The lyrics are at once charmingly simplistic and deceptively intelligent. The compositions are similarly striking: never overstated and never overpowering.

The album’s flow has been compared to the life cycle of a relationship, and it’s easy to see why. The first song, “Just You,” inspires the same dreamy feeling one encounters when falling in love. By the time you get to track seven, “Disappear,” the mood is decidedly more melancholy and contemplative. The last two of the album’s ten tracks are so sweetly heartfelt and wistful that they most definitely feel like the products of a broken-hearted man.

In a 42-minute album, picking one standout track should be simple. But the level of artistry apparent in both the music and lyrics makes it difficult to single out one song that rises above the others. The gauzy pop quality of “Just You” perfectly sets off the more country-esque tones of “No World at All” and “Cut the Line.”  Overall, the most memorable tracks for me were “Maryfaith Autumn” and “Cut the Line.” “Maryfaith Autumn” sports a lovely folkish feel with gorgeous playful lyrics and a dreamy flute line. “Cut the Line” is decidedly grittier, with a bit of a country twang and the downtrodden feel of a heartbroken man. It’s an incredibly moving song that fully deserves an extra listen or two.

Of the many notable qualities of Dog Eared Moonlight, the most striking is the flow. There are so many styles explored within, but it never feels forced or awkward at all. It simply feels like a journey, which every good album should. Each song flows perfectly into the next to create an absolutely exceptional album – one that I am pleased to have had the opportunity to experience.

Tagged as: folk rock, UK

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