Orcutt Shelley Miller: Orcutt Shelley Miller [Album Review]

Orcutt Shelley Miller
Orcutt Shelley Miller
Silver Current Records [2025]

“Orcutt, Shelley & Miller turn improvisation into pure, high-voltage rock magic.”

Album Overview: Bill Orcutt, Steve Shelley, and Ethan Miller each carry serious underground cred. Orcutt’s formative blasts with Harry Pussy and his jagged solo guitar explorations helped shape the noise-improv scene. Shelley, best known for anchoring the Sonic Youth kit, has decades of indie rock and avant-garde collaborations under his belt. Miller, the creative force behind Comets on Fire, Feral Ohms, and Howlin’ Rain, channels a love for expansive rock and high-energy psychedelia.

Together, they spark a chemistry that feels both effortless and combustible. Orcutt Shelley Miller—their first studio statement as a trio—was recorded live at Zebulon in Los Angeles. The five tracks carve a 32-minute surge of raw, unpolished rock, balancing recognizable riffs with open-ended interplay. You can even hear the crowd as songs fade, which only cranks up the intensity—it’s easy to picture the audience losing it at every twist while you feel like you’re right there in the room.

Musical Style: This is heavy, riff-driven rock with a free-form streak. Orcutt’s guitar darts and jags unpredictably while Miller’s bass slides between steady pulses and loose melodic runs. Shelley keeps it all moving with drumming that’s both propulsive and elastic, letting the trio drift toward krautrock grooves, SST-era punk energy, and a distinctly West Coast sense of space.

Evolution of Sound: Each member arrives from a different corner of the experimental and rock universe, and this project finds their histories colliding in fresh ways. For Orcutt, it’s a pivot from abstract solo improvisation toward something that resembles a classic rock band—without losing the bite. Shelley bridges art-rock instincts with a deep pocket, while Miller supplies a psychedelic undertow combined with his rocking Feral Ohms output. The result nods to their pasts but stands confidently as a new chapter.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re looking for a reference point, think of the electric sprawl of Neil Young & Crazy Horse when they’re in full, feedback-drenched flight. There’s the jagged guitar interplay and restless energy of Sonic Youth, paired with the exploratory, hypnotic rhythms of Can and the motorik drive of Michael Rother’s solo work. Add in the free-spirited psychedelic storm of Comets on Fire—Miller’s own past proving he’s no stranger to cosmic chaos—and you’ll catch a similar vibe. Fans of modern heavy psych and noise-driven rock might also hear shades of Earthless’ extended jams, the tense minimalism of The Dead C, or the improvisational spark of Sunburned Hand of the Man. All of these touchpoints hint at the trio’s sweet spot: unpolished rock ’n’ roll that’s wild, instinctive, and built for live combustion.

Pivotal Tracks: “A Star Is Born” sets the tone with a thick, hypnotic riff that announces the trio’s unfiltered approach. “An L.A. Funeral” slides from soulful grooves to sun-scorched guitar lines that echo coastal rock traditions. “Four-Door Charger” stretches into a trance-like jam as Shelley and Miller lock into a churning rhythm, giving Orcutt space to roam before fading into quiet. The closer, “A Long Island Wedding,” erupts in feedback and energy—an eight-minute burst of controlled chaos that lingers long after the final note.

Lyrical Strength: There are no lyrics here—just three players speaking in pure sound. Dynamics and tone carry the narrative, creating tension and release without a single word. It’s a masterclass in how music can tell its own story.

Final Groove: Orcutt Shelley Miller is a loud, locked-in conversation between three veterans who refuse to coast on reputation. It’s raw and immediate yet full of subtle moves that reward repeat spins. For fans of boundary-pushing rock, this debut feels like the start of something that could stretch even further—here’s hoping this trio keeps the creativity rolling!

ORCUTT SHELLEY MILLER LINKS
Website | Bandcamp | Silver Current Records