'Rick Miller' is a bit like the friend who reminds us of himself once a year and, when I search the various reviews I have written about him, 'Perpective' is already the seventh album since the beginning of myprogmusic (see here). And, each time, I know that I will savor this moment filled with serenity by abandoning myself to the sweet melodies of the Canadian. 'Perpective', which is already his 19th studio recording, is no exception to the rule and offers eight new compositions that we savour with enormous pleasure. We find some of the guest artists from previous albums who have been following him for quite some time, along with flautist 'Sarah Young', guitarist 'Barry Haggarty', guitarist and violinist 'Kane Miller', cellist 'Mateusz Swoboda', and drummer and percussionist 'Will'.
After a first listen to this latest album from the Canadian, we obviously find the influences of 'Pink Floyd' in the atmospheric side: it's impossible not to make the connection with the introduction of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' in 'My Avalon', which unfolds a slow-tempo melody of extreme melancholy, conducive to escape and which reminds us of the fate of every human being, of being nothing but passage on our land. This parallel with the 'Floyds' is also found in the numerous 'Gilmourian' guitar solos that punctuate this beautiful album. In certain compositions, I also find reminiscences of 'Mark Knopfler' in the guitar playing: for example, in the second part of 'False Prophets', the solo brings a particular freshness reminiscent of the British guitarist and, in a much softer register, 'When Night Meets Day' takes us on a magnificent, soothing ballad, this time reminiscent of the last solo albums of the guitarist of 'Dire Straits'.
The other point to highlight is 'Rick Miller's' talent for offering us magnificent melodic lines that delicately tickle our eardrums: that of 'The Path' is particularly moving and accompanies poignant lyrics, with that of 'The Prisoner of Uqbar' we are taken into a A delicious oriental journey, exuding a feeling of total change of scenery, and 'She's Alive' closes the album with a new melody that we let ourselves drift to, the various electronic rhythmic accompaniments bringing a beautiful diversity that we're not used to hearing from the Canadian.
Let's also not forget that 'Rick Miller' also knows how to take us on long developments in which the progressive side is very present: in 'Perspective', three compositions exceed 7 minutes and 'An Ordinary Man' is the longest. In this epic of more than 12 minutes, everything is done to let us let go on a slow tempo that unfolds a memorable melody, the instrumental accompaniments adding to this general feeling of well-being, notably the flute of 'Sarah Young' and the acoustic guitar of 'Kane Miller'. In the same style and as its name suggests, 'Inside the Dream' invites us to dream in lulled by the peaceful singing of 'Rick Miller', the piano accompanied by a melancholic cello reinforcing this feeling of sweetness, the track ending with an intense 'Floydian' guitar solo.
In short, far from the tumult of our violent world in which everything goes too fast, it is good to take refuge from time to time in a haven of peace, synonymous with tranquillity and serenity, and, as with the previous albums of 'Rick Miller', 'Perspective' fully plays this role by allowing us to escape to beautiful soothing melodies... | |
