Rude Intrusions/Second Sentence/Trilemna

Compiling the three full albums that Steve Miro released under his own name, as opposed to collaborations and other efforts that predominantly appeared on Object Records, Rude Intrusions/Second Sentence/Trilemna is a typically exhaustive LTM overview release, two full CDs' worth of material including otherwise unheard demos. Like his musical partner and Object label boss Steve Solamar, Miro was caught up in punk era Manchester, already having played music since his own teenage days in the mid-'60s; whether it was that background he drew on, or a great interest in a variety of styles, or some further combination of inspirations, the resultant songs on his albums, released between 1980 and 1984, steer rapidly clear of familiar punk clichés for something else. Miro's first album Rude Intrusions, along with some other early tracks, features his original backing band the Eyes, creating a sound not far removed from Elvis Costello's early Attractions work, if less angry-young-man and more considered, if energetic. By the time of Second Sentence, Miro was working with session musicians under the Eyes moniker to create work that sounded much more like a major-label production, enjoyable if sometimes surprising. "Something in a Nutshell" starts with a squelching keyboard loop and soft guitar part that could almost be a contemporary minimal wave composition, while the implicit guitar heroics throughout build up to a full-on concluding anthem in "Mutiny." In contrast, Trilemna was a quickly recorded, sometimes murkier-sounding effort that cut down on the bombast while still letting Miro's unaffected voice take the lead on strong songs like "Picnics." The five demos concluding the collection are interesting enough curios, while Miro's detailed autobiographical essay lays out his history and career nicely. ~ Ned Raggett