Sonically, as well as chronologically, "Miles Away" was a transitional song in Foxx’s catalogue, its instrumentation being heavy with synthesizers, as in previous solo releases, but also featuring the acoustic drum sound that would characterise his remaining 1980s work.

The fanfare-like synthesizer lines of "Miles Away" were reminiscent of the track "Slow Motion" which opened the album Systems of Romance, Foxx's last with former band Ultravox.

The picture sleeve of "Miles Away" depicts just such a "grey suit, white shirt and dark tie",[2] arranged across a lounge chair.

"Miles Away" appears on the 1993, 2001 reissues of Metamatic and on the 2008 re-issue of The Garden, which also features an "alternative version" of the song.

A live version performed by John Foxx and Louis Gordon is featured on the album "Neuro Video", recorded at The Luminaire in London, on 24 November 2007.