Music Review: Limblifter, Pacific Milk

By Tyler Hodg

A band can be either one of two things: a fragile organism that needs complete concentration to succeed, or a project that possesses a special kind of chemistry that allows it to be picked up at a moment’s notice and still work wonderfully. In the case of Limblifter, who have returned to the studio after nearly 10 years to record and release their fourth album Pacific Milk, it is the latter. It seems as though time away served the band for the better because not only is Pacific Milk a solid album, it may be their best to date.

While the members of the band have changed since its formation, lead singer and guitarist Ryan Dahle remains the driving force behind it all. To this day, his songwriting ability is severely underrated and Pacific Milk is all the evidence you need. Why the second track “Dopamine” isn’t currently a massive radio hit is utterly baffling. It’s a creative yet familiar sounding song that takes the currently popular indie sound and throws a hard edge on it.

Like “Dopamine”, most of the vocal melodies on the rest of the album are catchy and attractive, with “Hotel Knife” and “The Fauves” serving as the best examples. The harmonies between Dahle and bassist Megan Bradfield are crisp and complementary, which results in the songs being irresistible. Their pairing is a highlight of the album, among many others.

Possibly more than any other song, “Under the Riot” adds the most interesting flavor to the album. It has a natural, mellow sound, attributed to the soft synth and low-key drumming, yet features a screaming, distorted Dahle vocal layered on top of it. The high contrast brings attention to the vocals and lyrics, which are clearly the focal point of the song. It’s often difficult (and dangerous) to pick apart a song, but listening to “Under the Riot” has the capability to fill you with energy, regardless of whether you understand the meaning behind it.

For fans of previous Limblifter albums, Pacific Milk shouldn’t be so much of a departure to be alienating, but at the same time, it definitely isn’t repeating anything previously released. The album almost exclusively features upbeat rock songs, which isn’t exactly a bad thing—it seems like too many bands are afraid to show an adventurous side and they stick to the same melancholy sound time and time again. With Pacific Milk, Limblifter has shaken off all expectations of what a rock band should be and recorded exactly what they wanted to create: a fantastic album.

Pacific Milk was released via re-recordings/We Are Busy Bodies on April 7.