Detroit (Prog) Rock City
If you’ve never heard of Tiles, where have you been living for the last fifteen years. Founded in 1993, Detroit based Tiles is made up of Chris Herin (Guitar), Paul Rarick (Vocals), Jeff Whittle (Bass), and Mark Evans (Drums).
‘Fly Paper’ is Tiles latest and fifth album, and has been a while in coming. Mark Evans, once original drummer, returns to the stool to replace the departed Pat De Leon. It’s a good thing Mark came back to the fold as comparisons to Spinal Tap would be made.
Anywho, Tiles have been rightly or wrongly tagged with being ‘Rush’ clones. Some may say rightly so, especially when such luminaries as Terry Brown (Rush producer, also Fates Warning), Hugh Syme (Keyboards and past Rush artist aplenty) are involved in the project. Even utilising Brown’s address book to utilise Alex Lifeson on ‘Sacred & Mundane’
But also wrongly so as Tiles make reference to other progressive masters, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and even Queensryche, Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. The songs can be perceived either way, but in my opinion they are a very strong collection of songs worthy of any band, let alone Rush. Dare I say it, even messrs Peart, Lifeson and Lee would be proud to have written some of the songs on offer.
Tiles also carry on the tradition dating back to their 1999 cd ‘Presents of Mind’ brining in other guest musicians. ‘Fly Paper ‘ features an impressive roster of special guests including Alannah Myles on vocals, Kim Mitchell (Max Webster) and Alex Lifeson (Rush) on guitar; Hugh Syme on keyboards; Matthew Parmenter (Discipline) keyboards and vocals (not for the first time, and is almost becoming a fifth member of the band); and Sonya Mastick on percussion.
The cd kicks off with the excellent ‘Hide In My Shadow’ a choppy riffed intro, moving to acoustic, with Paul’s layered vocals suiting the song excellently with a melodic chorus. Lifeson picks up the lead on ‘Sacred and Mundane’ with a definite Canadian influence, acoustic at first, then hard hitting with a distorted wall of sound, featuring the unmistakeable Lifeson guitar sound. Alannah (Black Velvet) Myles helps out with her distinctive sound on ‘Back and Forth’., before one of the highlights for me, as its one of the heaviest songs Tiles have ever performed in the play on words, ‘Landscrape’ complete with moody, heavy riffs, and a good choice for a second single. The second half is as equally as impressive as the first, ‘Markers’ defines the band, showing their diversity. ‘Dragons, Dreams, and Daring Deeds’ is expansive and ‘Hemishperes’-like in its sound. Final track ‘Hide & Seek’ is the albums longest track, and contains a hidden bonus track which isn’t on this promo. The song is a delight and changes pace at the 3:27 minute mark, lighter, technical, with great guitar interplay with Paul’s vocals.
Weakness is not a work in Herin’s dictionary. All songs are powerful and should be on any rock fans wish list. Hell, I got the promo for nothing, and I’m still going to buy it.
Tiles have given us an album, which is proggy, both melodic and heavy in places, subtle and gentle in others, polished all round and even managing to be ‘stripped down’ in the process taking me to the late 70’s and beyond and similar to ‘Permanent Waves’ in its approach. 2007 was a great year for progressive rock, and Tiles ensures 2008 gets us off to the same great start.
Tiles have enough style and panache to stand on their own two feet. As a label ‘Inside Out’ have a roster of bands to be damn proud of, and I cannot think if a previous release over the past couple of years I did not like, and with ‘Fly Paper’, this excellent tradition continues. All hail ‘Inside Out’, all hail ‘Tiles’. Please carry the prog rock fight to the world, and let’s look forward to the next Tiles album, maybe even a tour, guys?