Dreams Divide - Milk and Leather

After initially hitting the UK live music scene in 2011 and playing with the likes of Public Service Broadcasting, Clan Of Xymox, Covenant and VNV Nation, and releasing the albums Puppet Love in 2011 and Tears From the Night Sky in 2014 (both compiled and released digitally in 2017 as Five Years), Dreams Divide took a four year hiatus before returning with an expanded lineup and their outstanding new EP Milk and Leather.  The overall sound here is very upbeat, 80‘s Depeche Mode like synthpop, never lacking in hooks, but with a bit of a punk edge that really sets them apart, especially on “Jam The Transmission” and “Freedom” (during their hiatus, original members DJ and Gemsy both played in an actively gigging punk band and brought some of that influence to Dreams Divide).  Having said that the title track does slow things down a bit and has a darker side to it both musically and lyrically as it deals with cruelty of the meat industry, while closer “Hunter” has more of a swirling dance groove.  Milk and Leather is a very welcome return from a band that hopefully we won’t have to wait another four years to hear from.  

(Analogue Trash)