By: Dr Matt Warnock
I first heard Adam Miller at the Summer NAMM show in 2010. I was in Nashville covering the event for Guitar International with roving reporter Chris Davis. Early in the afternoon on the first day of the conference we were walking down one of the rows of guitar exhibitors when suddenly I stopped. Cutting through the sonic chaos that was emanating from the dozens of amps that surrounded us was the sound of someone laying done some serious grooves on an acoustic guitar.
Immediately grabbing our attention we left the booth we were covering in search of the source of these transfixing sounds. Our ears led us to the Cole Clark booth where an unassuming man was hunched over a guitar, tearing through a funky-blues tune that was stopping everyone walking by in their tracks. Right away I knew this was a guitarist worth paying attention to.
After hearing Miller perform live, and being blown away by his technique, musical emotion and groove, I was interested to see how well that impact would transfer over to his third studio album Out of My Hands. Often times an engaging live performer can loose some luster when they get into the recording studio, but such is not the case with this Australian virtuoso.
The album features eleven of Miller’s original compositions for solo guitar and ensemble. Upon listening to the album it becomes apparent that not only is Miller a talented performer, but a gifted composer as well. Songs such as “Day Gig” and “Traffic” are as funky as it gets, digging deep into the pocket and getting even the most timid listener up and dancing around the room. On the other side of the coin are the more intimate ballads “Finding Home” and “Rushing In.” The later is a solo-guitar piece that showcases Miller’s ability to manipulate textures and dynamics to create excitement and engage the audience.
Though he possesses incredible chops, one of Miller’s greatest attributes is knowing when to strip things down and let the harmony breath. By providing this level of contrast throughout the album his chops seem that much more intense when he chooses to use them. They never become overbearing or exhaustive, which can be the case with other, similar players.
Out of My Hands is a strong effort from the Australian finger-style guitarist, and is definitely worth a listen. Though he performs extensively Down Under he has yet to do a significant tour of North America. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for his first U.S. tour. If you see Adam Miller’s name on a poster in your home town, do yourself a favor and check him out. You won’t be disappointed.
