EP Review: Suki Waterhouse - 'Milk Teeth'
Suki Waterhouse surprises with a new collection of familiar favourites, breathing new life into the roots of her artistry.
Enchanting, ethereal and dazzling as ever - Suki Waterhouse drops her newest EP, Milk Teeth, a thoughtful collection of her early work. This time on vinyl, the EP sees some familiar stories and also features the new track, “Neon Signs”. Amidst a tour with Father John Misty, the release of her newest single “Nostalgia”, and a stellar debut album earlier this year, Waterhouse is at an all-time high. Where other artists may be scaling their ascend upwards, Waterhouse navigates her artistry with her heart on her sleeve. She gifts us wholeheartedly with Milk Teeth, an eclectic mix of her early work. Pulling back the curtains on the dazzling lights of her current success, she nods to the roots of her beginnings.
“It means the world that Milk Teeth is getting a vinyl release,” Waterhouse says. “These songs were like secrets to me. They were witness to a time when I felt like I was drowning and I needed to connect on a profound level in order to stay afloat. I share them with everyone who collaborated me on this record. I’m so grateful for the guidance and permission they gave me to explore.”
Where emotional turmoil meets smoothly rugged originality, we find Waterhouse’s work. Laying her heart on the line, powerful undertones of modern nostalgia lead Milk Teeth - breathing new life into well-loved tracks and familiar stories. Perhaps symbolically, the EP comes soon after the release of her single titled, “Nostalgia”, as she begins to shift into the newest era of her music.
The EP features five songs from her early career plus one new track, “Neon Signs”. The post-grunge/rock heavy track is laced with fuzzy guitars that compliment Waterhouse’s mellow vocals. The introduction to the EP brings glaring neon sights straight into view, striking out across late nights and the haze of smoky bars. The hook “sold my soul for total control” builds in on itself as the song draws to a close.
Followed next by the stripped-back acoustics of “Valentine”, a love song reminiscent of late 80s rock ballads. Waterhouse’s vocals ring across the raw soundscape of the track, crooning “all I want to ask is / somewhere down the line / won’t you be my valentine”. The viral song “Good Looking” has already made its way to our heads and in our hearts before its addition here, alongside the accompanying alternative versions.
The blurry haze of “Johanna” rings true as it does familiar - the cinematic imagery that ignites a passionate longing is classic Suki Waterhouse. “Coolest Place in the World” questions identity, wrapping up the dizzying unsureties of youth with a poignant flair, while “Brutally” ignites the beauty of the unknown, striking in its sparsity.
In the daze of bright lights and big cities, Milk Teeth embraces the stripped-back release of human uncertainties. Nodding to Waterhouse’s early years but also to the core appetites of raw emotion, this EP will be a collection just as well-loved as any.
Words by Rachel Min Leong
