The Binary System: Invention Box (CD)
Atavistic Records: Released May 2001

Roger C. Miller: piano, prepared piano, toy piano, electric guitar, trumpet, organ, Wurlitzer electric piano
Lawrence C. Dersch: drums, wind machine, metals, percussion
with guests:
Jane Wang: standup bass
Liz Tonne: voice
Terry Donahue: musical saw (No Man, Alloy Orchestra)
Dan Stillman: shawm (Exquisite Corpse)

"The Muse is Alive in the World of Sounding."

1. The Sound of Music, Today
2. Rogue Wave
3. The Initial Orbit
4. Spiral
5. Third Door on the Left
6. Trimorphic Hybrid
7. Metamorphocles
8. Two Blue Torpedoes
9. Texas

THe Sound of Music, Today, is a deconstruction of that song.


REVIEWS:

Improper Bostonian, Jan. 2002: "Ten Bands Making Waves" (listed first).

"allaboutjazz.com", Jan. 2002: "For Binary System, rhythm and melody are so tightly intertwined that they become one. Keyboard player Roger Miller offers a pulsing, throbbing counterpoint to drummer Larry Dersch's insistent beats. Yet he also manages to achieve a rare balance with forward-looking, constantly evoloving, thematic development. Based on Invention Box, it's clear that these two players have spent enough time together to develop a signature musical voice and speak as one. The musical range of invention Box spans diverse territory. At times the duo draws from free jazz (as on the loosely metallic piece "Texas"); at others it explores progressive improvised rock a la Can (as on "Rogue Wave"). The counter-intuitive ways Binary Ssytem connect different sounds offers plenty of intrigue and fascination. But somehow, with just two voices, they manage to travel from rock to funk to jazz (and back) without any unneccessary stops along the way. The greater organizing force on Invention Box defines itself quite early on as the beat. Occasional hiccups (performed in perfect synchrony) leave no doubt that portions of this music are clearly pre-arranged. Yet frequent periods of discovery and evolution also establish a prime role for improvisation. Binary Ssytem offers a unique approach to groove-based improv on invention Box - far enough off the beaten track to offer general interest, yet so thoroughly rooted in its rhythmic foundations that listeneres will never find themselves lost in its swirl."