Miller, Ben / Degeneration

Eyelands Under Eyelid

Gulcher

CD $13.50

07/20/2010 880270297221

MP3 $7.92

07/20/2010 880270297221

GULCHER 706 CD

***“BENJAMIN MILLER has been exploring the outer reaches of music since 1969, starting with brothers LAURENCE (MR. LAURENCE EXPERIENCE) and ROGER (MISSION OF BURMA) in the psychedelic/art rock band SPROTON LAYER. Blending psychedelia, ‘20th Century Classical’ and jazz elements (his punk credentials include DESTROY ALL MONSTERS), his music has continued to challenge, disturb, and chart new territory. While he is adept on both saxophone and guitar, this release finds him in full-on solo guitar, ‘degeneration’ style. With his guitar on a stand, pickups on both ends (and a free-floating pickup as well), various elastic metals dripping off the guitar and threatening to melt in the heat of the moment, Miller coaxes sounds out of the guitar that are about as far from ‘guitar’ as can be created. Closer to neurons firing inside the brain than harmonic referenced sounds, this music is both industrial and hyper-organic. It can be listened to ‘moment to moment’ with full concentration, or as an ambiance when you want to ‘leave your world behind.’ For both purposes, his music is an asset. And in case you were wondering, Miller tours with this ‘degeneration’ set-up and can create the same type of improvised music, on-the-spot, that often sounds more like it was pre-composed, and makes you wonder if all the sounds in the world might also be music. Worth your set of ears, that is a fact.”— Roger Miller (2010)