Two years in the making, Conspiracy Theories is guitarist Phil Miller’s most ambitious record to date. A member of legendary Canterbury groups including Hatfield and the North, National Health, Matching Mole and Delivery, Miller has devoted the majority of his energy over the past quarter century to his more overtly jazz-centric In Cahoots group.
While the core of In Cahoots remains - über-bassist Fred Baker, keyboardist Pete Lemer and relative newcomer Mark Fletcher on drums - Conspiracy Theories introduces saxophonist Simon Picard and trumpeter Simon Finch to the line-up. Miller also calls on a number of friends old and new, including Gong alumnus Didier Malherbe (woodwinds), Annie Whitehead (trombone), Barbara Gaskin (vocals) and ex-Hatfield mates Dave Stewart (tuned percussion) and Richard Sinclair (bass).
Conspiracy Theories features seven new and characteristically dynamic compositions from Miller, and one each from Baker and Lemer. The group expands and contracts, ranging in size from quintet to a full eleven-piece for Miller’s episodic, metrically-challenging and texturally rich “5s & 7s” - the largest ensemble Miller has written for to date. Miller’s writing has never been more complex yet approachable, and the indefinable British nature of his writing, dating back to Matching Mole, remains a defining quality.
1. Conspiracy Theories 7:09
2. Press Find Enter 8:27
3. Flashpoint 5:55
4. 5's and 7's 8:21
5. End of the Line 11:09
6. Freudian Triode 10:18
7. Orinaca 3:13
8. Crackpot 8:04
9. Lydiotic 8:07