In the booklet to Absinth Dominic Miller appears as a Provençal of Choice: "The first thing that came to me before I wrote any tunes was the title. I am no art expert but living in the south of France I am fascinated by Impressionism. Sharp light and witchy mistrals, combined with strong alcohol and intense hangovers must have driven some of these artists towards insanity. Skies that are green, faces blue, perspective distorted." As green as the Provençal sky sparkles the Absinthe, the "green fairy" of Provence. The production of this high-percentage bitter spirit was banned about one hundred years because of its allegedly harmful effect on health. Among other things, it should lead to blindness if consumed excessively. Only recently it was proven that the bad quality of the alcohol was responsible for unpleasant side effects at that time, which is why Absinthe is not only drunk again today, but has been chosen by Dominic Miller as the title for his new, second ECM album. The Provençal feeling delivered free of charge by the new Miller album is rounded off by the recording location, the Studios La Buissonne in Pernes-les-Fontaines, a charming little wine village south of Mont Ventoux, which is visited annually by the Tour de France.

With and without a glass of cool absinthe in the glass, the sensual mood of the album of the same name characterized by the guitar and bandoneon takes the listener right into the middle of the hot African summery Provençe. Dominic Miller, who has made a name for himself as Sting's lead guitarist, has selected top-class musicians for his new album who, in a quintet formation, give his own compositions exactly the rich tonal colours and elicit the rhythm that credibly creates the sun-drenched southern French atmosphere even in cooler climes. On the bandoneon Santiago Arias makes sure that the highly artificially plucked guitar by Dominic Müller is brilliantly accentuated like a seductively sexy fashion girl wrapped in velvet. Also known for his collaboration with Sting is the drummer Manu Katché, who sets the rhythm on Absinthe with full commitment where needed. Another man of the quintet was already active with Sting: bassist Nicolas Fiszman, who is responsible for the structured foundation of Absinthe. The fifth man in the quintet is Mike Lindup, who takes care of Absinthe's iridescent midsummer mood with his keyboards.

Although the compositions on Absinthe can be seen as light-footed at first glance thanks to their simple beauty, they are clearly more than pure entertainment thanks to an extremely successful, imaginative and highly professional realization, namely exactly the kind of cheerful pieces of music of which there are far too few, because they immediately appeal to the listener and carry him away. Even on the demanding ECM label these albums are rather rare, but thanks to its mastermind Manfred Eicher, who is open for all colours of jazz, these albums however take place from time to time.

Dominic Miller, guitar
Manu Katché, drums
Nicolas Fiszman, bass
Mike Lindup, keyboards
Santiago Arias, bandoneon