(All I Wanted Was) Danger / Dynamite

The Milk are four spirited young men from Wickford, Essex - birthplace of, among others, Alvin Stardust and Chantelle Houghton of ‘Big Brother' fame. The boys spent their formative years dreaming of being cool kids in Camden, and thrashing around somewhat aimlessly in a punk band. Then, having slogged up and down the M1 one too many times, with self-booked tours that took them to Hull via Exeter and Edinburgh ("we had no concept of geography," notes singer Rick), the band realised punk was dead, and split.  

(All I Wanted Was) Danger was conceived during this slump, and proved to be the turning point in their musical and professional lives. Stylistically, the boys began to embrace the classic Motown, Stax and Trojan records that had soundtracked their early teens. Days were spent working a series of stop-gap jobs (builder, teacher in a special needs school, pharmaceutical salesman). Nights, however, were dedicated to channelling this frustration into new songs and sounds: all of which were - and often still are - written and recorded in their garden shed. The first fruit of this overhaul was (All I Wanted Was) Danger, which became as much a motto to live by as a killer tune (with two choruses). A thrilling burst of soulful pop, Danger feels influenced by a love of The Style Council, the restless energy of ‘Born To Run', and the call-and-response choruses of The Vandellas or The Ronettes. It is an immediate and immersive mix: classic, contemporary and expertly-crafted.

The release of Danger comes backed with Dynamite, which chronicles the release of the pent-up energy and frustration of the A-Side. Though it was written with one thing in mind - to soundtrack their local indie dive, The Pink Toothbrush - its lyrics might also refer to a friend's experiences of Viagra. The band don't want to get anyone into trouble, so won't name names.

Produced by Brad Baloo (The Nextmen)