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Miller, Rick: Unstuck In Time
The second of two 2020 releases from Rick Miller, Unstuck In Time could easily have been retitled, Time On My Hands. Why? Well, because if ever an album was patient in its intention of taking you to its destination it’s this one. Miller says himself on his bandcamp page that if you’re looking for progressive rock that has a prediction for metallic riffs and screamed vocals, then you’d best move along… these are not the songs you’re looking for. Hence the many clocks on this CD’s cover feel just perfect for the likes of the meandering, Gregorian Chant infused vintage prog of “The Plague” as it takes us on a twelve minute voyage across ebbing and flowing landscapes. Like much else here, you could argue that not much happens and yet the smooth passage across nuanced and crafted sections that come together to make a cohesive whole proves engaging nonetheless. It’s almost as though you’re willing this album to reveal and deliver more but somehow delighted that it never does.
It’s a theme throughout as a sound that sits somewhere between Floyd at their most languid and the less exuberant offerings from Gandalf’s Fist, something the electronically edged vocals emphasise, surrounds you. The short synth sojourn that makes up the “Covid Concerto” proves much more upbeat and Jarre like than its name suggests, thankfully, but it does confirm that Unstuck In Time is an album that’s hardly likely to be pulled out at a party to get things started. No, like much of the music arriving during these unwelcome times, the despairing tone of everyday life is often, if not always, reflected in the themes and choices taken here. At times that does mean that, for my taste, Miller’s excellent guitar work is allowed to slip too far out of ear-shot but with an expert hand on the arrangements and a clearly considered mood and tone throughout, it’s not always the problem that it might have been.
Approached in the wrong frame of mind, I will admit that Rick Miller’s music can come across as just a little dowdy and yet, after a few visits, there’s undoubtedly a richer field of emotions at play than originally picked up on. The results make for a fine companion in these uncertain times, where the singular focus but gently varied approach offers reassurance, if not quite so much resolution.
Track Listing
1. The Plague
2. State of Emergency
3. Covid Concerto
4. Fateful Apparitions
5. La Causa
6. Lost Continuum
7. In Sync with the System
8. Broken Clocks
9. Unstuck in Time
Added: September 30th 2021 Reviewer: Steven Reid Score: Related Link: Rick Miller @ bandcamp Hits: 1145 Language: english
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Miller, Rick: Unstuck In Time Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2021-10-01 04:14:15 My Score:
Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rick Miller has been plying his trade since 1984 and the release of his first album Starsong. He didn’t release his next album until 2000 and since the start of the new millennium he has consistently released albums, around thirteen of them, in what Miller calls “the progressive rock genre”. The first Miller album I heard was Falling Through Rainbows (2009), followed by Dark Dreams (2012) and Immortal Remains (2013), the latter two reviewed on this site.
In 2020, Miller released two albums, Belief In The Machine and Unstuck In Time. This is a review of the latter. Unstuck In Time was written during the pandemic shutdown and many of the tracks reflect these challenging times. Musically, this has ‘80s style Pink Floyd written all over it. I don’t mean this as a negative, but its clear Miller wears his influences on his sleeve and I for one could think of worse bands to emulate. Miller’s voice has that Gilmour-like relaxed delivery, nothing over the top or histrionic but its really the guitar playing of Barry Haggarty that carries the Floyd flag. The songs are generally slow to mid paced and show tremendous depth and are texturally interesting to say the least. Miller’s use of dense atmospheres and effects, combined with excellent violin and flute will take you on a real mind bender. I am particularly impressed with Miller’s arrangements and how fluid these songs are, even when traversing along heavy and lighter moments. The album is bookended by two great tracks, both over eleven minutes. The first track “The Plague” starts ominously with the tolling of a bell and some incredibly deep low end synths. Gilmour-like guitar along with some tasty acoustic and various otherworldly sounds and textures as well as choral voicings all add to the track’s progressive charms. The album ending title track has Haggarty expanding his palette as his wonderful guitar playing permeates the soundscape.
Unstuck In Time is likely my favourite Rick Miller album thus far. Great arrangements, intelligent songcraft, memorable melodies and of course impeccable musicianship. Go ahead and check it out by clicking on the link below.
A Progressive Promotion Records release.
The players:
Rick Miller (vocals, keyboards, Mellotron, guitar, bass)
Barry Haggarty (guitar)
Kane Miller (violin, guitar)
Mateusz Swoboda (cello)
Sarah Young (flute)
Will (drums, percussion)
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