music4m.com - Milburn- Cheshire Cat Smile

Milburn may appear bedecked in the middle of Sheffield's growth of floppy-haired insurrection and well-adapted comparisons, however, they are overlooking a Northern club circuit and finding their own way of reclaiming authenticity. As their quirky tune 'Cheshire Cat Smile' begins with a delightfully edgy riff that elicits a lovelorn bounce-along, the band delivers seamlessly and singer Joe Carnall opens up with a clipped Yorkshire accent and a youthful howl. While many have slyly tried to tag Milburn as sounding like an Arctic out-take, the band have instead managed to come out with a slick result that is just as portentous and potentially chart-shagging as their contemporaries. 'Cheshire Cat Smile' moves beyond the sound of teenagers throwing a strop and moves into catchy choruses and attentive lyrics. Carnall croons , "So open your mouth and stick to your guns/You've gotta realise that she's indifferent/Woah oh ah oh what's your name?/Just won't learn, here we go again" As Carnall harks back with "woah oh oh's" that are somewhat American in melody and in messy-pop delivery, drummer Joe Green is the puzzle piece that brings this coolly lose track back to its tight sentiment. Even with the angular riffs and a wicked dabble in jangly guitars (all inherently frozen in nature) Milburn have put together something hook-filled and freshly sophisticated. Slightly less than 2 and a half minutes, 'Cheshire Cat Smile' harbors the childlike-enthusiasm that leaves us all waiting for a potentially rattling debut. While the song itself may be somewhat predictable, its punchy chords and charmingly grafting lyrics offer an ascendant attraction to this band who are tussling with their own impish swagger. This second single is an audacious rite of passage as a foot-tapping dance romp with poignant lyrics and a fender-indebted familiarity. With this dubby track, Milburn will certainly be opening their mouths and sticking to their guns.

Michelle Deiss

Milburn - Cheshire Cat Smile