Monthly column “CYCLE MUSIC” where essays on bicycles and music are written every time. This time, let’s introduce a song called “Bicycle” by the renowned guitarist Dominic Miller.
Born in Argentina to an American father and an Irish mother, Dominic Miller has long been hailed by the media as a “great and gentle storyteller.” Based in London for many years, he now resides in the South of France. However, he is perhaps best known for his illustrious career as Sting’s right-hand man. Sting has praised him as a “colourful architect of sound,” while Paul Simon, with whom he has also collaborated, has lauded his guitar playing as “beautiful tones with the fragrance of jazz and English folk,” highlighting his technical and melodic sensibilities.
Currently releasing his own leader albums from the prestigious German jazz label ECM, which boasts “The Most Beautiful Sound Next To Silence,” Dominic Miller’s “Bicycle” is featured on his second ECM release, “Absinthe,” which came out in 2019. This collection pays homage to the impressionist artists of 20th-century France who fascinated him, presenting a sweet, dangerous, and beautiful tribute akin to the potent herbal liqueur “absinthe.” I attended his Japan tour held at Marunouchi COTTON CLUB to coincide with the release of this album.
The song “Bicycle” from the album “Absinthe” is particularly appealing to me, with its vibrant guitar refrain, nostalgic bandoneon, and impressive drumming, performed by a quintet including Santiago Arias and Manu Katché, evoking delicate emotions through subtle ensemble sketches. Overseas jazz websites even compare it to Nujabes, evoking a sense of saudade in its timeless, melancholic melody that feels purifying to the soul. Perfect for a serene cycling ride during the tranquil twilight, where light and colours gently shift.
Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA) Editor / Music Selector / DJ / Producer. Founder of Suburbia Factory. Owner of Shibuya’s “Cafe Apres-midi” and “Apres-midi Selecao.” Over 350 compilation CDs, including series like ‘Free Soul,’ ‘Mellow Beats,’ ‘Cafe Apres-midi,’ ‘Jazz Supreme,’ ‘Music With A View,’ and many others, have been curated, making him the world’s foremost selector. He oversees and produces music broadcast channels “usen for Cafe Apres-midi” and “usen for Free Soul” on USEN, wielding significant influence in Japanese music scene since the 1990s. In recent years, his ‘Good Mellows’ series with a focus on mellow chillout has gained great popularity both domestically and internationally.
