Originally known as Standing Pavement, Downriver-based band Tiles has been on the scene in earnest since 1993.
They've released a fine series of albums to worldwide critical acclaim, partnered with Dream Theater on a European tour in 1999 and have opened for numerous acts including Judas Priest, Kansas, Steve Morse Band and Spocks Beard, among others.
They've received kudos for their work by music legends such as Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and Gene Simmons of Kiss and have found a solid and comfortable niche that stylistically falls somewhere between the melodic metal of Queensryche and the technical precision of Rush.
Historically Tiles has explored many facets of contemporary rock fusing their traditional guitar centered sound with elements of folk, jazz, classical and pop. Their previous recorded works have certainly spanned the creative gamut and have allowed the band to pursue a unique and unparalleled vision.
However with the new Inside Out/SPV disc "Fly Paper", set for release on January 27th, the band has taken that progressive aesthetic and refined it in the form of tighter and more immediate songs, rawer and edgier production, expansive vocal harmonies and more direct lyrical statements.
Their previous album "Window Dressing" veered into uncharted waters with moody and idiosyncratic themes, flirtations with brass, extended jams and classically-tinged piano etudes. While that album was brilliant in its own right, Tiles has returned to their early '90s roots with a record that features loud and proud rockers mixed with poppier and more melodic fare.
Famed Canadian producer Terry Brown has worked with Tiles on "Window Dressing" as well as their previous releases "Presents of Mind" and "Fence the Clear". Many might recognize that name from his long association with the band Rush, having worked on their chart-topping "Permanent Waves", among many others. Brown returns to oversee "Fly Paper" and enlisted guitarist Alex Lifeson to guest on the fiery track "Sacred and Mundane".
Other musical luminaries who take part on this new release include vocalist Alannah Myles, who had a Grammy Award-winning hit with "Black Velvet" in 1989 and six-string axe man Kim Mitchell, who fronted the band Max Webster and had a solo hit with the song "Go for Soda".
Rounding out a superior roster of session players, in addition to core band members Mark Evans (drums), Chris Herin (guitars/vocals), Paul Rarick (lead vocals) and Jeff Whittle (bass), are album designer and keyboardist Hugh Syme, Detroiters Sonya Mastick (percussion) and Matthew Parmenter (violin/keyboards) and vocalist Nate Mills.
Watch for Tiles to play select dates in the metro Detroit area in support of the new release "Fly Paper" throughout 2008.
--Eric Harabadian
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