Detailed Reviews [L. B. M. - 2002 - "Turn a Left and Down the Hall"]

Prolusion. US composer and musician Laurence Bond Miller has been a creator of music ever since the middle of the 1970s, being involved with a number of different band projects over the years in addition to being a creative solo artist. The compilation "Turn a Left and Down the Hall" was released back in 2002, and has been reissued now in 2025.

Analysis. The subtitle of this compilation is "Rare Demo Recordings 1974-76", and consist of home recorded material from the very start of Miller's career as a creative artist in the field of music. The album consist of material I suspect many would describe as demo recordings, recorded on a tape deck at home rather than in a studio, and while these are planned creations at least to some degree there is a general feeling of some of these creations also being crafted at the spur of the moment and then later fleshed out. Those with an interest in more polished music may find many of the compositions on this album on the Cuneiform released production "Miller Twins: Early Compositions 1973-76". I had many associations towards the topics of youth and hubris when I went through the 16 tracks as well as the spoken word liner notes that is the content of this production. Where the occasionally more expressive vocals in particular brought such thoughts to mind. Details that would have been fun for me to listen to when I was 16, but that perhaps doesn't impress quite as much when you are on the wrong side of the 50 border. Not that the vocals and voice effects are all that important on this production, but it is a fact that a certain affection or understanding about how young minds work and operate may be a little bit of an asset when encountering those details. The music itself strikes me as being a bit outside of everything else. Traces of chamber music are very much present, there is a certain ongoing jazz undercurrent too, as well as tips of the hat towards what one might call chamber rock today as well as progressive rock. With the use of layered reed instruments being something of a defining feature throughout. On many occasions the melody lines explored gives me solid associations to the album "Acquiring the Taste" by the legendary band Gentle Giant, and I would be a little bit surprised if the then young Laurence Bond Miller hadn't given that album a listen or three prior to creating the music on this album. While this is a bit of a recurring element and often a starting point for these creations, the impulses from chamber music and jazz are probably more defining in terms of the general style explored here. We do get some bass, rhythms and possibly some guitar thrown in at times here too, but it is the reed instruments (and possibly some brass at times too?) that drives these compositions onward. With frequent use of avantgarde inspired experimental features and occasional ventures into more chaotic and free form inspired properties to boot. With occasional regular and occasional experimental singing, spoken poetry, recitals and voice effects of various kinds given roles to play. For those who want to track down this album, it has been made available through the Bandcamp page of Miller's band project Tinn Parrow and his Clapfold Platune.

Conclusion. This isn't a polished compilation, that fact should be noted straight away. But for those with a fascination for hearing the results of young, creative minds being at work, and hearing those ideas captured when they came into existence, this compilation will provide plenty of nuggets to enjoy. In particular for those with a taste and affection for music that spans across the range of chamber music, jazz, experimental music and arguably also progressive rock. Even if the rock aspect as such isn't all that much present. An intriguing compilation of the earlier work from a veteran US artist.

Progmessor: August 2025
The Rating Room