Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics – Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics review

Strut take the initiative from last year’s critically lauded Inspiration Information collaboration between Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics by pairing the latter up with another engrossing figure in Lloyd Miller. Born into the pulsing environment of 1938 New Orleans and raised on a diet of jambalaya and jazz, a move to Iran in the late 50s sparked what has become a lifelong obsession with the music of Persia and Eastern Asia. Miller has previously collaborated with drummer Catto and bass player Ferguson from the Heliocentrics on the Jazzman released Lloyd Miller Trio EP and this album marks the onset of a blossoming musical relationship between all. It is “Electricone” which previously featured on that EP that opens OST in such mesmerising form with the strains of wood wind and taut percussion preparing your ears for a hypnotic journey through subtle eastern jazz arrangements tinged with a soft edge of psychedelia. Miller’s appearance behind the microphone on “Lloyd’s Diatribe” dukes it out with the pensive guitar flavour of album closer “Sunda Sunset” for the highlight of an all round impressive listen.

Review: Tony Poland