Vinny Miller (born 1969 in

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , ...

, England) is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, once signed to the 4AD label. He first came to musical prominence in 1998 as a 4AD signing under the moniker Starry Smooth Hound, releasing a track co-produced by Guy Fixsen (of

Too Pure Too Pure was a London-based independent record label formed in 1990 by Richard Roberts and Paul Cox. The label gained prominence after the release of PJ Harvey's debut album '' Dry'' in 1992, and subsequently found further success in the lat ...

band

Laika Laika (russian: link=no, Лайка; – 3 November 1957) was a Soviet space dog who was one of the first animals in space and the first to orbit the Earth. A stray mongrel from the streets of Moscow, she flew aboard the Sputnik 2 space ...

) on the label sampler ''Anakin''. Two singles, "Pigpen" and "Breaking Out of Your Arms," preceded Miller's debut studio album ''On The Block'' in April 2004. Two tracks included drumming contributions from

Clive Deamer Get the Blessing (previously known as the Blessing) are a jazz rock quartet based in Bristol, England. The band formed in 2000 when Jim Barr (bass guitar) and Clive Deamer (drums), who had played with Portishead, joined Jake McMurchie (saxopho ...

, whose previous credits included recordings with Portishead and

Roni Size Ryan Owen Granville Williams (born 29 October 1969), better known by his stage name Roni Size, is an English DJ and record producer. He came to prominence in 1997 as the founder and frontman of Roni Size & Reprazent, a drum and bass collective. ...

. Miller states "Pigpen" was first demoed using the opening drum riff from the

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

classic recording of blues original

When The Levee Breaks "When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. "When the Levee Bre ...

. He has provided guest vocals on tracks by

Mark Van Hoen Mark Van Hoen (born September 1966, Croydon, London, England) is an English electronic music artist. He has created music under his own name as well as Locust, and Autocreation. Pitchfork said, "Musically, Van Hoen belongs to a distinguished f ...

and

Sing Sing Sing Sing Correctional Facility, formerly Ossining Correctional Facility, is a maximum-security prison operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining, New York. It is about north of ...

, toured the US briefly with

John Darnielle John Darnielle (; born March 16, 1967) is an American musician and novelist best known as the primary, and originally sole, member of the American band the Mountain Goats, for which he is the writer, composer, guitarist, pianist, and vocalist. ...

and Peter Hughes from American act The Mountain Goats, and recorded radio sessions with Mary Anne Hobbs for the

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

show '' Breezeblock'',

Gideon Coe Gideon Jon Quantrill Coe (born 22 September 1967 in Canterbury, Kent) is a radio DJ, presenter, sportscaster, voiceover artist and journalist. Early career He began his broadcasting career in 1976 as a child presenter on the BBC One TV program ...

for

BBC 6Music BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available onl ...

, John Kennedy for XFM, and for

British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...

's ''

The Selector ''Selector Radio'' is a weekly two-hour radio show produced by Folded Wing for the British Council. It covers a variety of music genres, ranging from grime, indie, soul, and dance and features live sessions and DJ mixes. Launched in 2001, as ' ...

''. He has also collaborated with Steve Cobby, one-half of electronica acts

Fila Brazillia Fila Brazillia is an English electronica duo from Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England, formed in 1990 by Steve Cobby and David McSherry. History Their early albums were released on Pork Recordings, also based in Hull: '' Old Codes New Chao ...

and

The Cutler The Cutler is an electronica collaboration from Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. Formed by Steve Cobby, formerly half of Fila Brazillia, and David 'Porky' Brennand, founder of Pork Recordings, they play electronica and Dub music. Formed in 200 ...

. Of his prolonged silences Miller says: "I create when conditions are favourable. That could be soon, or it might be never."

Discography

Studio albums

*''On the Block'' (19 April 2004) **4AD, CAD 2404 CD *# "The Yes/No Game" – 1:27 *# "Breaking Out of Your Arms" – 3:38 *# "Roll Complete" – 3:32 *# "Pigpen" – 4:05 *# "Cromagno" – 0:36 *# "Bagged and Tagged" – 4:58 *# "Afternoon Nod" – 3:33 *# "Bogeyeater" – 3:59 *# "Millalude" – 0:40 *# "Hogbreath Busts a Move" – 2:54 *# "Alioth" – 5:33 *# "On the Block" – 5:32

Singles

*"Pigpen" (AD 2305, 8 September 2003) *# "Pigpen" – 4:03 *# "The Yes/No Game" – 1:22 *# "Bagged and Tagged" – 4:59 *"Breaking Out of Your Arms" (22 March 2004) **CD (BAD 2413 CD) *# "Breaking Out of Your Arms" – 3:38 *# "Tanglebot" – 2:49 *# "Hastener" (Demo) – 2:18 **7" vinyl (AD 2413) *# "Breaking Out of Your Arms" – 3:38 *# "Hastener" (Demo) – 2:18

Appearances on compilations

*"Dreamt U in a Dream" (as Starry Smooth Hound) **On the 4AD sampler ''Anakin'' (TAD 8001 CD, 26 January 1998) *"Coco Crush (edit)"(as Starry Smooth Hound) **On the 4AD sampler ''Dust Distorts'' (1998)

References

External links

Vinny Miller biography on 4AD.comVinny Miller discography at Discogs
1969 births Living people Musicians from Dorset English male singer-songwriters English singer-songwriters 4AD artists English experimental musicians {{UK-singer-stub