Band:	Tiles
Album:	Window Dressing
Style:	Progressive rock
Release date:	May 03, 2004
A review by:	Malcolm

01. Window Dressing
02. Remember To Forget
03. All She Knows
04. Capture The Flag
05. Tear-Water Tea
06. Stop Gap
07. Unicornicopia
08. Paintings
09. A.02
10. Slippers In The Snow
11. Spindrift

There is always bands that slipping past our eyes and minds and that we never ever going to hear. And I'm sure Tiles would be such a band for me.
Because I would never believe that this should be anything for me, never. But guess what, I was wrong, this is really something, maybe even for you and I.

Tiles was formed back in 1993 by guitarist Chris Herin, and contains today, except Chris also Paul Rarick (Vocals), Jeff Whittle (Bass) and Pat DeLeon (Drums).
They released their first album in 1994, simply entitled "Tiles. It became a huge success, and magazines were fighting each other with new superlatives about the new and talent band.
And in 1997 the successor came, "Fence the Clear" didn't get the same attention as the debut, but it sold well, precisely as the third album, "Presents of Mind" from 1999.
In 1999, Tiles also went on a big European tour together with their compatriots Dream Theater, which also was immortalized with a Live release, "Presence in Europe 1999" was released the year after.
And now it's then time for the fourth album to se the light of day, "Window Dressing" is the name.

First of all, before getting any longer I have to price the cover art and the artist that made it, Hugh Syme. Because it's not only original, it's also damn fine, or at least the lady in the window is.
There, now was that said.

The album doesn't start slow or easy, the starter is the title track and is clocked at 17:11, and that's not so usual today, and that's a good song, don't ruin anything. The progressive part is doing much in this, but how would a band other make a 17 min long good epic song?
And the starter together with two other, early tracks is also the best you'll get from this album. Tiles have chosen to place the best songs in the beginning, I don't know it that's so good, but it's their choice.

To find some band that Tiles have some similarities to, I'll say Rush. I haven't heard much Rush, not much at all, but what heard is quite alike this, even if Tiles isn't any copycats.
They have found their own way to walk, beside and together with their bigger fellows.

Production is good, but not perfect, I can hear some smaller things to complain on, but it's not anything that ruins listening experience. And the singer is a real jewel, his job on, for example "Capture the Flag", is world class, and his voice is very original. And I find this album perfect for days like we have here now, soft and sunny days with Tiles, can't be better, I assure you.

Overall, Tiles have succeed to make a really interesting album that I don't think fans of their other three albums will be disappointed with (if so, I really want to hear them, because they then will surely rock the shit out of me) and it might gain one or another new fan too, but overall I think it's mostly fans of this kind of music that will buy this album.

Favourite Songs: "Window Dressing", "Capture the Flag" & "Tear-Water Tea" gets my votes, very good songs.