Tilt (UK): Crossover Prog.

 

We start with a post by a member with the username Tilt in the 'Get The Word Out' forum back in June 2009: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58983 talking about a free download. He made a couple of other posts at around the same time which didn't receive any replies, but this one had a couple of positive responses from progarchives members, one of whom is actually part of one of the evaluation teams on here. Sadly the free download is no more, but the EP can be downloaded for only GBP 1.99, which ain't bad for 30-odd minutes of pretty decent music.

 

Tilt's last log-in on here was 30 July 2010 at 05:56, so I guess he has given up all hope of having his band added to the archives, but they say good things come to he who waits...

 

So who exactly are 'Tilt'?

 

The nucleus of the band consists of Steve Vantsis, Dave Stewart and Robin Boult. They have so far produced just one EP of around 30 minutes (5 tracks) called 'Million Dollar Wound' released 06 July 2009. On this first release Tilt were joined by guitarists John Wesley (Porcupine Tree) and Frank Usher (Fish). On keyboards and string arrangements there was Irvin Duguid (Paolo Nutini, Stiltskin), and we also had guest singers Paul Dourley, Holly Tomás and Kaela Rowan.
The music on ‘Million Dollar Wound’ was written, arranged and produced by Steve Vantsis. This was his first project since writing and arranging music on ‘13th Star’, the highly acclaimed latest album from ex-Marillion frontman ‘Fish’.

 

There are actually positive reviews for this EP just about all over the Internet - here are just a few:

http://www.prognaut.com/reviews/tilt.html

http://usaprogmusic.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_simple_review&Itemid=28&review=338-Tilt-Million-Dollar-Wound
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200939.php#tilt
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=8096
http://www.dvdivas.net/ProgVoices/T/tilt-milliondollar.html (review by Charlie O'Mara of the Silhobbit 'Proggy Style' Radioshow)

 

Proggnosis list them: http://www.proggnosis.com/PGArtist.asp?AID=9500

 

Steve Vantsis and Dave Stewart of 'TILT' were actually interviewed for 'Classic Rock Presents Prog' Magazine issue 5 (the December 2009 edition, which came out on November 25th 2009), and featured in 'Threshold' – the section for up and coming artists. There was a full page spread on Tilt, and Steve and Dave talked about the band and their plans for the future. The piece commented on 'Million Dollar Wound' citing, 'lush melodies, sweeping arrangements and emotionally wrought lyrics'. 'Classic Rock Presents Prog' also gave 'Million Dollar Wound' a great review in the preceding issue.

 

There is another extensive interview with Steve Vantsis, Dave Stewart and Robin Boult of Tilt which was carried out in 2009 here: http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/interviews_display.cfm?id=100394.

 

The album was added by to progfreak.com by Rivertree 3 years ago: http://progfreak.com/Tilt-Million-Dollar-Wound-109022.html, but nothing shows for it in the PA section, which is what make me think it got 'lost'.

 

Nothing for this band on YouTube I'm afraid, so you're going to have to mosey on over to bandcamp to listen to all of it: http://tilt.bandcamp.com/album/million-dollar-wound.

 

There is also:

http://www.reverbnation.com/tiltband
http://www.myspace.com/tiltband (only the first two tracks are full length - the rest are 1/2 to 1 minute samples) http://www.last.fm/music/Tilt+UK/Million+Dollar+Wound (same samples as at myspace)

 

There are a mixture of styles on the album - an out and out 'rocker' to start proceedings off, but there are also a couple of beautiful 'folky' ballads with exquisite female vocals, so I reckon overall it would have to go in Crossover.

 

I'm pretty sure this band should have been added long ago - the website actually talks about a series of intended EPs, but only this one has been forthcoming so far. Most of the other prog sites seem to have it...perhaps it's time for us to check it out too!

 

Edit: Rateyourmusic.com list over a dozen artists with the name 'Tilt' - I only discovered this one when I heard the track 'Gravity' playing on Morow.com while I was eating my breakfast this morning! Seems a few other prog radio stations play their music too, judging by the 'friends' list on the band's website.