Short Reviews [Rick Miller - 2025 - "Perspective"]

Rick Miller is back with his 19th studio album, yet again utilising the same musicians he has developed a relationship with over the years. All those involved have played with Rick for some time, apart from newbie Carolina Prada who has been brought in to add oboe to the mix (and very effectively she does too). I may not have heard Rick's first six albums, but I have been fortunate to review all since 2009's "Falling Through Rainbows" and he continues to follow his own path, while at the same time being one of the more prolific artists within the prog genre. As with 2024's "One of the Many", the cover depicts a person sat looking at a scene, although it must be said this one is far more pleasant than the rather dystopian nightmare we had last time around. Musically, we again find Rick at some of his most dreamy and reflective, bringing together symphonic progressive rock and crossover melodies, showing a heavy influence from late Seventies releases by the likes of The Moody Blues and Alan Parsons Project. The addition of a real oboe provides subtle nuances, while the flute and cello are still mainstays of his sound. The music often has a foundation of acoustic guitar, while percussion is only used sparingly, and Rick's melodious vocals are a delight, seamlessly mingling with the arrangements so while they are to the fore, one feels taken away from this world to one where not everything feels dark and evil. While Rick is prolific, this being his fifth album in five years, he has very strong quality control and is incredibly consistent in all he does. This album is not meant to be rammed into the senses, but instead lulls us in, demanding we pay attention while rarely being dramatic. The traffic sounds halfway through the lengthy "An Ordinary Man" (12 minutes) is jarring, but it allows a reset back to his vocals and picked acoustic with the rest of the band gradually coming in. There are some wonderfully dated keyboards here and there, and one truly gets the impression that Rick creates the music he wants to, no matter what fashion may be dictating. Here he is providing his perspective on the world but never sounds preachy but instead is allowing us to take a different path, even if is just for a while. If you have yet to come across his music, and love the classics, this is a great place to start.