Welcome Back To Milk

British singer-songwriter Beth Jeans Houghton is back with a new name and a new sound. The ukulele, harp, and glockenspiel of her 2012 debut have been replaced with Stones R&B rhythms, doomed Sabbath licks, and blistering Cali-punk.

Back, renamed and pissed off, the artist formerly known as Beth Jeans Hougton delivers a satisfyingly substantial listen.

While making the follow-up to her debut album Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose, Beth Jeans Houghton experienced a creative block that led to scrapping an entire album's worth of songs, dissolving her band the Hooves of Destiny, and the creation of a new musical persona: Du Blonde.

Beth Jeans Houghton's transformation from screwy troubadour to her new alter-ago is surely standard issue music career car crash, right? Think again

Coming to the end of the "David Bowie Is..." exhibition, this U.K. singer/songwriter was reminded of reasons why she chose to pursue music: the creative freedom it allowed artists to explore, to change, and to push their own boundaries.

Review of 'Welcome Back To Milk' the forthcoming album By Du Blonde (Beth Jeans Hougton) out May 18th on Mute Records. The lead single is "Black Flag."

Beth Jeans Houghton returns after a full overhaul of her life, persona and musical style, and her new is as odd as it is inventive