RICK MILLER

Gentle, subtly brooding progressive rock with distinct similarities to 70's Pink Floyd in sound is Canadian artist Rick Miller's specialty, and on "Dark Dreams" he's created perhaps his most enticing album of this kind so far. Sporting arrangements of a somewhat more refined nature than previously, it is a CD that should please all existing fans and one that merits a check by followers of the aforementioned Pink Floyd.

Canadian multi-instrumentalist Rick Miller has always been one for mellow music. Beginning his work in the eighties with the new age record "Starsong", Rick has gone on to make a series of albums, often drawing comparisons to the work of Pink Floyd, and for good reason. "Dark Dreams" is another warming addition to this saga, capitalizing on his soulful guitar style and artistic maturity.

The comparisons to Pink Floyd are well founded, although I think I would take it one step closer and liken Miller's work to Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's solo career, particularly "On An Island". The music here is fleshed out with atmosphere, built around melancholic songwriting, and brought to life through Miller's lead guitar, of which listeners will hear much of. Although his voice is somewhat plain, Rick uses it well, and his songwriting- often graced with satirical lyrics- works with his subdued vocal approach. Like many other, more laid-back vocalists in prog rock- notably Steven Wilson- Rick Miller distinguishes his vocal talent through beautiful vocal harmonies. The key to his talent lies in the guitar, however. Although much of the album's forty-five minutes is allocated to the more structured elements of his songwriting, he never forgets to give some breathing room for his guitar, home to some of the most tasteful soloing I've heard in a while.

Above all, I may be most impressed by the way Miller has produced his work. After having worked in a recording studio for some time, it's clear that this experience has translated well in his work, resulting in a gorgeous sound for "Dark Dreams". With particular regards to his vocal harmonies, Rick's ear for mixing is spot-on. Of course- much like the songwriting- the sound of "Dark Dreams" sticks itself within a fairly tight room. Barring the ethnic ambiance that bookends the record, listeners can expect to hear a fairly straightforward course of melancholic rock, rarely deviating from the slow to mid-tempo pace. For the intents of a 'chill out' album, "Dark Dreams" does not suffer loss, but it would have been nice to hear Rick Miller's artistic vision broadened. His talent and skill of engineering is very evident, but the sense of restraint is never broken.

Needless to say, fans of David Gilmour's solo work will love what Rick Miller offers; Rick certainly delivers many of the same traits and qualities that make the former such an icon. "Dark Dreams" rarely leaps out or seeks to surprise, but it creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere for one to sit down and relax to, and I think that's what Miller set out to do all along.

Entirely built around Miller's synthesizers,this work would not show any music developmemt over his early years with ''Interstellar Passage'' being a New Age/Electronic album of relaxed soundscapes and promising atmospheres.A good album for the style, evolving cosmic electronics and spacey synthesizers over a dreamy atmosphere overall,but with no signs of Miller's later musical explorations.The composer uses a variety of sampled instruments including flutes, strings and acoustic guitars in order to offer a richer sound, however these come-up as absolutely cheap-sounding additions to his keyboard work and very typical- sounding of the recordings' time.While not being a bad album, ''Interstellar Passage'' tends to be rather monotonous and repetitive with its listening,however the last tracks feature some good Electronic/Symphonic soundscapes,somewhat closer to the style of his later albums.

Very monotonous effort for even the average proghead and not really representitive of Rick Miller's next works, ''Interstellar Passage'' is the perfect album for a relaxing mood but the worst for an occasional prog listening.A good addition only for fans of New Age music.

"In the Shadows" is arguably Rick Miller's most accessible album to date, featuring compositions of a straight-forward and ballad-oriented nature, with gentle symphonic backdrops and fragile instrumental details as essential building blocks. Not an album for those who have a need for challenging escapades, but those who have a taste for timeless and beautiful music inspired by the earliest pioneers of symphonic progressive rock should find this disc to be a charming acquaintance, especially those fond of smooth, melodic and most of all gentle music.

Late 70's Pink Floyd is a sticker that should be attached to Rick Miller's 2006 production "The End of All Days". His highly melodic, harmonic and pleasant take on that sound is one that will intrigue quite a few of the people who are of the opinion that "The Dark Side of the Moon" is the best album ever made. Miller's excursion into this realm of expression isn't as detailed or sophisticated, but he's a caretaker of the good melody and the pleasant atmosphere of this style this time around. A good album, and probably one that will be regarded as outstanding by those with a strong fascination for a dream-laden approach to this general sound.

"Dreamtigers" is a fine example of sophisticated symphonic art rock of the atmosphere-laden variety, music that should interest those who enjoy Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and Camel's various endeavors as well as fans of the less known contemporary explorers of that stylistic expression such as Phideaux and The Future Kings of England.

That's what you can imagine when listening this music and that's exactly the word that was on my mind when I first heard this. From lengthened guitar solos, little bit electronic (remember Cher?) altered voices to sometimes long, sometimes short tracks, but in all times sounding long.

There's no rush on this record, there's even no Rush anyway. There is just calm pace and intention to go forward, continue forth, but very slowly, enjoying the view ("mountains, dew, ocean, echoes..."). Because in todays rushed society, why should we hurry ? It's unhealthy, it's important most of the times, but we then need to calm down every now and then, for example with this record. I've never been fan of meditating music, but to rest with "Falling Through Rainbows", that's good choice.

It's like this ocean pattern you can receive from psychologists, of course, except few parts (like one section of Rose Coloured Halls). There should be warning not to listen this album when you are sleepy, otherwise there's strong chance you will fall asleep. Not because this music is boring, but because it's very harmonic and everything sounds natural.

The only problem may be that it all sounds quite same, there are varieties, but not so distinct, there's unifying theme of dream, magical landscape. Some albums are like that, but not many of them.

4(+) positive dream by Rick.