Ben Miller

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New Releases

Polar Shifts Ben Miller / solo multiphonic guitar.
A chaotic sound portraying past and future events on Living Records, released digitally March 1, 2024, originally released in 2010 as a cassette on Obsolete Units.

"Five distinct pieces of prepared guitar from this veteran erupt impulsively on Polar Shifts, each digging out its own medium in ranges from subliminally minimal silence and sustainment to off-kilter "songs" comparable to the more entrancingly sparse and industrial ventures of This Heat. Miller, who’s appeared in projects ranging from the infamous Destroy All Monsters to M3 to GKW to Dirty Old Man River, initiates a stark boldness pertaining to his meticulously modified instrument, forgoing easy novelty for a demanding and rousing execution of pleasantly cryptic resonance. An exceptionally obscure venture into immaculate and subtle clamor." _Obsolete Units, 2010
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/polar-shifts

Under the Wire is The 11th Hour’s first release; a collection of recordings from 2023. Dig in.
Living Records, released Dec. 1, 2023
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-wire

City Life is a collection of compositions recorded while Miller lived in NYC. Recordings by The Push Pull Quartet were originally released on Tigerasylum Records in 2007 called "At the Stroke of Twelve." Recordings by Pisstol Poem were recorded in 2010.
Living Records, released digitally June 15, 2023
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/city-life

Sirens of Phobos Ben Miller / solo multiphonic guitar.
Living Records, released digitally May 31, 2023 (Originally released as a CDR in 2007)
Motoko Shimizu sings on "Sirens of Phobos" and "Her Atmosphere."
Ed Chang plays reeds and electronics on "Commuters from Demos," and live electronic sampling/looping on "Pandora’s Box."
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sirens-of-phobos

Cloud Eleven by The Sensorium Saxophone Orchestra.
Living Records, May 1, 2023 (Originally released as a CDR in 2013)
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cloud-eleven
Benjamin Miller; Composer/Conductor/Alto sax
Soprano sax: Kevin Gosa, Gerald Thomas, Terrell Reese.
Alto sax: David Schnug, Justin Wood, Lethan Hardy, Adam Ramsay.
Tenor sax: Gerald Thomas, Jonathan Mortiz, Bryan Benninghove, James Elmore III, Chris Diasparra, A.J. Kluth, Joe Wilson.
Baritone sax: Josh Sinton, Kristin Olson, Kyle Saulnier, Chris Diasparra, Stefan Zenuik, Gabriel Yonkler.
Bass sax: Brian Landrus, Stefan Zenuik.
Drum Kit: Hiroyuki Matsuura, Tim Kuhl, Jarrod Ruby, David Tedeschi.

Layer by Ben Miller (solo multiphonic guitar). Picture Music according to Roger Miller’s frottage drawings.
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/layer
Living Records, March 3, 2023 (Originally released as a CDR in 2005)

Sun of Water, Sea of Light by THIRD BORDER
originally released on Radial Records (2006), now digitally available on Living Records - February 2023
https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sun-of-water-sea-of-light
"Ben Miller played alto sax for Ann Arbor legends Destroy All Monsters during the group’s second incarnation, with Niagara and Ron Asheton at the helm. As the driving force behind Third Border, however, Miller’s talent as a writer and performer becomes clear, and what leaps out is not without its own quirky charm. Rather than simply replay Miller’s art punk past, THIRD BORDER mix Prog with 60s UK psychedelic pop. Their timely version of Syd Barrett’s Jugband Blues is a fine example of the latter, an eccentrically orchestrated tribute which goes out in fine style with a mad marching band of saxophones and kazoos."
_WIRE magazine Oct. 2006

Upcoming Releases

Early Compositions 1973-76
THE MILLER TWINS:
Laurence Miller Bb, Alto, Bass and Contrabass Clarinettes, bass guitar, drum kit, vocal.
Ben Miller alto and C-tenor saxophone, electric archtop guitar, bass guitar.
Guest musicians; Don Davis, Denman Maroney, Frank Pahl.
Cuneiform Records, slated for a summer release

Born for Years
PORCELAIN HAMMER: Ben Miller stereo baritone guitar. Mike Khoury violin. Deanna McMullen. Mike List drum kit, tablas.
2182 Record Company, slated for a 2023 release

Recent Releases

Traveling in the Dark explores an effects-driven Alto & C-Tenor Saxophone with tape deck, Casio SK1 and analog synth. The sound is heavy on the cerebral, free from back-beats, chords, or melody – a shadowy combo of electronic and ambient directions. One of Miller’s main interests was the use of Feedback by plugging a microphone into a fuzz face with the microphone stuffed inside the bell of the saxophone. Pitch was determined by using different fingerings on the horn. A trumpet mouthpiece was often used rather than a saxophone mouthpiece adding to the chaotic texture. Miller toured France and US east-coast with this project and premiered at the Sonic Circuits Festival in 2008. Traveling in the Dark was originally released in 2009 as a CDR and is now available for digital download.
Living Records, (2009) November 14, 2022

Grand Bland Vapid Rapids
THE FOURTH WORLD QUARTET
Denman Maroney: piano, Laurence Milller: bass clarinette,
Benjamin Miller: alto sax and e. guitar, and Jack Waterstone alto sax. Rec’d June 1975.
Cuneiform Records, September 16, 2022

Who’s Running the World? is a number of demos that Nonfiction recorded in 1982/83. The band played the Ann Arbor/Detroit area from 1982-1985. They were one of 12 local bands showcased in the 1st Ann Arbor Music Project "live" compilation LP in 1982. Their first release, "Walking Sideways, Talking Backwards," was stated as "...Best local release of the year...” by the Detroit Metro Times / December 1984. Laurence Miller: guitar, bass, vocal. Ben Miller: guitar, bass, vocal. Bill Frank: drums.
Living Records, August 16, 2022

Mariana Trench is an audio depiction of traveling down into The Mariana Trench 36,000 feet below sea level. Orin Buck created a video to accompany earlier performances in NYC. The audio was recorded in 2009 - long before James Cameron decided to visit said location! Ben Miller: multiphonic guitar (two tracks) with 4 pickups in stereo, casio sk1 8-bit sampling, transistor radio, various preparations, violin bow, eBow, foot pedals. Recorded on a Tascam 38 1/2” analog 8-track deck by Orin Buck. Recorded @ IBeam Studios, Brooklyn NY in 2009. Originally released as a CDR in 2017 it is now available as a download.
Living Records, June 30, 2022

The Dreamer’s Wheel was recorded during a transition period between solo multiphonic guitar work and the forming of a full band — Porcelain Hammer. Originally released as a cassette in 2018, it is now available as a download.
Ben Miller: stereo baritone guitar, vocal. Mike Khoury: violin. Deanna Lee: cello. Mike List: drum kit and tablas.
Living Records, released April 1, 2022

In the Moment is a retrospective of Ben Miller’s multiphonic guitar work.
Mastered by Warren Defever
Two Rooms Records, March 4, 2022

Every Room
This composition was originally released by Abaton Book Company in 2007 as a lathe cut (sold out).
"...reminiscent of The Microscopic Sextet. An interesting piece of work with chamber proclivities and many happy associations."
Size Matters, WIRE 2007
Ben Miller: Soprano, Alto, C-Tenor, Baritone and simulated C-Bass saxophones
Living Records, March 4, 2022

Going Places is a 4-song release, noir jazz.
Ben Miller; composer, archtop hollow body electric guitar, alto saxophone, simulated bass guitar, cymbal
Living Records, February 20, 2022

Unidentified
is a composed soundscape originally designed to be a sound & dance performance. It was recorded during a 2016 residency at Anis Gras just outside of Paris. This piece was inspired to unfold as a UFO encounter using my multiphonic Zoo-guitar setup with dancer extraordinaire Azusa Takeuchi. While it was not possible to finish the project, the recorded soundscape stands on its own.
Ben Miller: multiphonic guitar, foot pedals, casio sk1, cassette loops, scored violin and sax ensemble.
special thanks to Anis Gras, Arcueil, FR
Living Records, January 19, 2022

ThoughtCrime
By Miller-Ruby. Mastered by Warren Defever at Third Man records. This is an art-rock collaboration recorded in 2020 between New Haven and Detroit. 14 Songs on mind-management.
Ben Miller: vocal, various guitars, bass, recorders, keyboard, percussion.
Jarrod Ruby: drum kit, synthesizers.
Living Records, July 9, 2021

1975
The Fourth World Quartet 1975
Roger Miller: piano, Laurence Milller: bass clarinette, Benjamin Miller: alto sax and e. guitar, and Jack Waterstone tenor sax. Rec’d March 1975.
Cuneiform Records, June 25, 2021

Ben Miller’s Room a 3-CDR box set w/2 hours of material
This was a monthly podcast throughout 2020, 12 podcasts altogether, reading from Miller’s novels: On the Brink, Cody, and Mystery of the Useless Clues.
Ben Miller: narrative, instruments, foley, sound design, soundtrack.
Living Records, December 18, 2020

Transposing Time
Exploded View: All instruments and vocal: Benjamin Miller and Laurence Miller
Living Records, August 1, 2020

Hello Doctor Mesmer b/o Paraphernalia

(https://lightcone.org/en/film-10253-hello-doctor-mesmer)
Ben Miller: sound design for films by Raphael Maze
Raphael: noise
Bye Bye Records, March 7, 2020

Battle Axe

Ben Miller stereo baritone guitar & devices (https://livingrecords.bandcamp.com/)
Living Records, January 3, 2020
first solo release in 6 years

The Dreamer’s Wheel

PORCELAIN HAMMER
Ben Miller stereo baritone guitar, loops, tapes, vocal
Mike Khoury violin
Deanna McMullen Lee cello
Mike List drum kit, tablas.
cass, Living Records, August 19, 2018 release

Empool Does Do Did Done

EMPOOL; mid-70’s psych noise from Ann Arbor MI - LP, Feeding Tube Records, released July 27, 2018

Mariana Trench

Ben Miller multiphonic guitarscape / Orin Buck video
dvd/flash drive and cass/cdr, Living Records November 2017
Miller’s intense inspiration to depict submerging to the lowest most depths of the planet conjoined with Buck’s visually psychedelic representation of said journey. Collaboration took many years providing a variety of presentations; Live, Installation and Film.

Blackhole LP

XANADU/DESTROY ALL MONSTERS

A reissue of two EPs originally recorded in 1979. "A split release between legendary art rockers Destroy All Monsters and one-off punks Xanadu." Third Man Records March 2017

The Horde

TRANSISTOR (Franck Vigroux/Ben Miller) EP, Entr’acte March 2017

Transistor formed in 2009 when Franck Vigroux was performing in NYC
where Ben Miller led several projects. Vigroux was in a creative transition
suggesting a stripped down electro-industrial sound with the latter as
lead singer. Miller had sung in many bands before but never solely as a
lead singer. The new challenge was intriguing. Shows were set up with
Vigroux’s sub-bass and extreme frequencies blowing more than one PA
system. They struck up an overseas collaboration releasing a self-titled
EP. While sporadically performing in NYC and Europe, Transistor returned
to the studio for their full length LP Din of Eons released in 2013. All the
while, French filmmaker Gregory Robin had been shooting a documentary
of the duo’s goings-on, which premiered in Paris 2016 to a full audience.
(vimeo — 144867206)