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Tiles can do much more. It is as if they're limiting themselves to playing without crossing the safety border of acceptable, accessible rock. There's not much variation, not much shift in style or sound, in the sense that it sounds "samey" after a while. There is no standout track, no special moment that makes me glad I listened to this. There's no attempt at making this interesting or challenging. Not challenging in an avant-garde sort of way, but give more life to the songs, introduce interesting and unexpected turns and twists (those can be melodic; nothing weird has to be done). Markers, which is the 5th song, comes close to this, and yet doesn't fully reach it as well. But a song like Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds, could be developed into more than it is. Hide and Seek, that last track (I don't have the ninth track that appears on the early release) is also one that shows that they can certainly achieve a more interesting result, but again it is not fulfilled. In addition it ends in a fast fadeout that doesn't add to the song, nor does it serve as a good album closer.

This is not to say the songs are bad or not enjoyable, not at all; it's just that there's nothing new under the Tiles sun. It is the same old story, same pattern, same result. I guess that devoted Tiles fans will find merits to this album and will probably like it. I will not recommend them to not get it, as I feel they'll have a sentiment of reward from listening to it. It is just that I (as someone who likes their previous albums) am somewhat bored by it, not thrilled from listening to it, and prefer to invest my time and money in other albums. Only two songs here did manage to get my attention - Sacred & Mundane and Markers. All the others, are to me uninspired and just don't manage to do what other albums I like do; that is "grab my neurons and make my brain shake".

This is too bad as I had hopes they'll progress and continue with the spark that marked their Presents of Mind album and the experimentation done in Window Dressing. I feel disappointed with this release and would not advise to someone unfamiliar with the band to start with this one. Instead go for Presents Of Mind or Fence The Clear. As for fans of the band, I can't recommend this album. I feel this is a step down, or rather regression from the path they should have chosen, as I see it.

2.5-3 in PA scale.

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