When Reuben Samuel Winter (Waitaha/Kāi Tahu/Te Aupōuri/TeRarawa/Ngāti Kuri) passed away in September 2020, he left a hole in theNew Zealand music community that will never be filled. But like thegenerous soul he was, he has left behind a glorious gift to us all in Milk III.Milk III is not the last album that Reuben recorded, but it is a masterpieceand a culmination of a life immersed in music. A life spent experimenting in aplethora of eclectic genres, and constantly leading the charge of weirdness from the vanguard of the New Zealand underground.
Milk III was recorded in January 2019 at Red Bull Studios, recorded, and engineered by Ben Lawson, with countless layers of overdubs recorded at Reuben’s home in Titirangi.
It features an eclectic cast of musicians including Reuben Winter, Lachlan Smith, James Thorrington, Emma Hall-Phillips, Victoria Chellew, Charlie (Opi), Jong-Yun J.Y. Lee and Peter Ruddell.
Milk III is being released on black vinyl LP on 20th April, 2021 via New Zealand label Flying Nun Records, with all profits split between Fibromyalgia Aotearoa New Zealand and Reuben's whānau and future fund. Reuben struggled silently with fibromyalgia and chronic pain for close to a decade, and this incurable and invisible illness affected his hauora on all levels.
This record is not a hastily thrown together posthumous release. Every second of sound, every word, every multi-layered overdub was carefully considered, and lovingly crafted by Reuben. It shows an insight into who Reuben was in the last few years of his life. A man brave enough to stare his own pain in the face, and who was kind enough to share himself wholly with
anyone who would listen.
Label:Flying Nun Records – FN597
Format:
Vinyl, LP
Country:
New Zealand
Released:
20 Apr 2021
Genre:
Rock
Style:
Tracklist
A1 Dopehead 3:21
A2 Maple 4:38
A3 '78 1:30
A4 Ram Raid 3:22
A5 Stolen Valor 4:03
B1 Crit+ 4:42
B2 WiFi User 4:12
B3 An Important Message 1:01
B4 Shirts 4:14
B5 A Letter To Silent Heaven 7:21
