Chris Herin, guitarist for Michigan-based prog-metallers TILES, has checked in with the following update:

?"With the mixes mostly finalized last weekend - we'?ve spent the time since listening to all the songs (over and over) and tweaking a few minor details. The entire process began in mid-June with (producer) Terry (Brown - RUSH) working on each song by himself; then sending us mp3?s to review. We diligently did our homework: downloading files and listening to the works-in-progress on a variety of cheap and decent sound systems. After compiling a list of questions and ?ideas,? it was time to convene in Toronto and work on the mixes in person.

Arriving late last Thursday night, we kicked off the proceedings with some of Terry?'s ?birthday cognac? (courtesy of us in the first place) and casually listened to a few mixes on the studio system. Excited and satisfied that everything was sounding ?really big? we called it a night then started in earnest the next morning. I have always considered mixing the most stressful and strenuous part of the entire recording process since every decision carries the weight of ?finality.? But with Terry having mixed the songs to about the 95% completion point on his own ? we simply had to add a bit of our perspective and a few ?ear candy? ideas. Of course , five guys equal five opinions that don?t automatically mesh ? which makes for the occasional animated discussion. But such is the way of the creative process.

Aside from the eventual satisfaction of hearing the songs in their final form, one of the highlights of the weekend was our dinner date with the enigmatic ALANNAH MYLES. It was the least we could do to show our gratitude for her outstanding vocal contributions to 'Back & Forth.' The evening was spent discussing all kinds of things from the fact that the bass part in 'Black Velvet' was done on a keyboard (!) ?to the growing problem of obesity in America. Alannah informed us that her guest appearance on 'Back & Forth' was the first time she had sung three and four part BEATLES-esque vocal arrangements so it was good to know that she had a bit of fun too.?

Visit this location to hear a new version of Alannah Myles' 'Black Velvet' which Terry mixed for her upcoming CD."

As previously reported, the tentative track listing for Tiles' upcoming album Fly Paper is: 'In My Shadow', 'Sacred & Mundane', 'Back & Forth', 'Landscrape', 'Markers', 'Dragons, Dreams, and Daring Deeds', 'Hide & Seek'. The follow-up to 2004's Window Dressing is set for a fall release.