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Continuing the 70th Birthday celebration of the late, great, guitarist/composer and all round inspiration, Phil Miller, I was egged on by Herm (his widow) and I’ve now had a go at his luscious melody, ED or Ian.

(For the uninitiated, Phil played and wrote in Delivery, Matching Mole, Hatfield and The North, National Health and later his own band, In Cahoots.)

In this fine composition, Phil wows us with a path that starts at E dorian then takes us on a tricksy route through his own copious notes. I love that there are only 4 different upper triads throughout but the breadth of scales it reaches along the way are dizzying. The implications of Phil’s horn voicings too (realised here on organ and mellotron flute) are so rich - and I’m most grateful to Herm for providing me with copies of the original scores.

My inspiration for the lyrics was Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken which (as well as Phil’s music) has provided me with much succour through difficult times - I rather seem to be a sucker for American poets!

Anyway, again, I hope this recording is some kind of tribute to such a phenomenal presence in many of our musical lives.

Billie x

lyrics

ED or Ian? (Miller/Bottle)

Two roads diverge: ED or Ian?
I could not travel both
And still remain one traveller, sadly
Until I rolled the dice
I looked onward far as I could
In the undergrowth and the swaying wood
With courage I blew on dandelion heads

Paths are merging
Two ways diverging
Until there's a turning in the highway
That could change the compass for a spell
Of silence
Of wisdom
A reason
Till ED or Ian
Agreed on another world

Two friends diverge: get mad get even
They could not both be right
And still remain compadres, in time
And so the die was cast
They looked inwards far as they could
Till they realised they were making good
The nightmares behind them now in dreams to share

Plans are bulging
Two friends divulging
I’m sure there’s a turning in the highway
That could be some comfort for a spell
Of silence
Of wisdom
A reason
Till ED or Ian
Agree on another world

credits

from Grazie Miller (Tribute to Phil Miller), released April 4, 2019
Billie Bottle: voice, piano, virtual mellotron, bass guitar, programming, recording and tweakage

Ljós Greenleaf: artwork

With thanks to Herm Miller, Kyle Mew and Doug Boyle for creating philmillerthelegacy.com

Also, Viv Goodwin-Darke and Ljós Greenleaf for their kindnesses.

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Billie Bottle Devon, UK

Welcome to the world of Billie Bottle, singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and band leader.

"vigorous and unequivocally hip" - All About Jazz

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