Out Of The Blue

Four years after the release of Parallel, Phil Miller delivered this new and rather quite different offering from In Cahoots. A kind of "back to the roots" album, Out of the Blue updates the guitarist's bluesy beginnings, pointing back at his days in the 1960s with Delivery. Is there such a thing as "Canterbury Blues?" This CD seems to prove so. Two tracks are performed by the quartet version of In Cahoots (Miller, Fred Baker on bass, Pip Pyle on drums, Pete Lemer on keyboards), with guest guitarist Doug Boyle. The other pieces feature the sextet version (same plus Elton Dean on saxophones and Jim Dvorak on trumpet). The bluesiest numbers are "Open Sea," "Phrygian Blues," and the opener "Early Days," on which Miller's guitar sound is closer to B.B. King than usual. Still, don't think this is straightforward genre-obedient music; Miller adapts his blues to Canterbury-esque fusion and, even though the pieces are mostly written in a typical 12/8 feel, they are hardly limited to 8- or 12-bar structures. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" would be the encounter of John Mayall and Allan Holdsworth, while "Delta Borderline" is typical Miller -- complex with an ever-shifting rhythm section and fusion electric guitar solos. One must point out the beautiful work of Baker on fretless bass; his embellishments are first-class. Pete Lemer also shines throughout the album, but especially on "Delta Borderline" (huge piano solo). Fans of Canterbury prog and fusion might feel a bit confused, but Out of the Blue provides a nice change of pace. ~ Francois Couture