photos by Matthew Parmenter and Hugh Syme
As The Laserâs Edge prepares for the November release of Hiding In Plain Sight, the debut from HERIN â the progressive/post-rock solo venture of Tiles/Discipline guitarist Chris Herin â Sonic Perspectives today premieres the albumâs second video/single, âWarning Signs.â
A conceptual work recounting Chris Herinâs difficult walk alongside his fatherâs ten-year struggle with Alzheimerâs disease, HERINâs Hiding In Plain Sight combines distinctive prog and art rock influences that alternate from sophisticated orchestral arrangements and polyrhythmic complexity to contrasting cinematic soundscapes and ambitious guitar workouts.
Teaming up with HERIN are renowned producer Terry Brown (Rush) and Grammy award winning mastering engineer Peter Moore (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell) who give Hiding In Plain Sight a luxurious and dynamic sonic landscape. For the attentive and patient music enthusiast each listen gradually reveals the albumâs cache of nuanced and subtle details. Complementing the reflective and occasionally disquieting lyrics is Hugh Symeâs (Rush) whimsical and engaging imagery, the artwork capturing the albumâs sensibilities of time and place for a compelling and enigmatic visual counterpart.
Hiding In Plain Sight is a collection of thoughtful observations and somber meditations while Herin sidestepped through the debris field and collateral damage of the growing Alzheimerâs storm. Eleven watershed moments that echo the fragile impermanence of life and encourage the listener to turn inward in sympathetic introspection. Abundant prog filigree adorns the album and musical adventure abounds as sprawling vocal hooks glide over angular riffs, richly textured instrumentation, and brooding ambient orchestrations.
Lending their exceptional talents to Hiding In Plain Sight is an impressive cast of nearly thirty musicians, including Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame members Peter Frampton and Alex Lifeson (Rush), plus Martin Barre, John OâHara, and Doane Perry (Jethro Tull), Michael Sadler (Saga), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster), Cody Bowles and Kevin Comeau (Crown Lands), Jeff Kollman and Shane Gaalaas (Cosmosquad), Tim Bowness (No-Man), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree), Kevin Chown (Tarja, Chad Smith), Matthew Parmenter (Discipline), Hugh Syme, Johnathan Blake (Kenny Barron), Ben Riley (Mohsen Namjoo), Gary Craig (Bruce Cockburn), and many more.
Embracing a prog rock spirit that appeals to both the heart and mind, Hiding In Plain Sight is a bold and adventurous fusion of musical palettes as the distinguished roster of guest artists propel HERINâs songs into inspired and expansive directions. A portion of this albumâs proceeds will be donated to Alzheimerâs charities.
The second single from Hiding In Plain Sight is the albumâs leadoff track âWarning Signs.â Driven by the powerful pocket of world-renowned drummer extraordinaire Shane Gaalaas (Bâz, Koshi Inaba, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker), the song showcases the familiar tenor of vocalist Michael Sadler â from iconic Canadian progsters Saga â soaring above Herinâs slippery and angular riffs. Add Jeff Kollman on lead guitar and Kevin Chown on bass â who along with Gaalaas comprise the formidable fusion trio known as Cosmosquad â and âWarning Signsâ boasts a thundering groove that energizes Sadlerâs delivery and showcases Kollmanâs incendiary soloing.
Chris Herin states of the song, âI have been a legacy fan of Saga for 40+ years, starting when âOn The Looseâ broke and seeing them open for Jethro Tull in 1982 on the Broadsword And The Beast Tour. As I was brainstorming possible vocalists, I noticed Michael had joined up with Torontoâs David Barrett Trio on some excellent tunes and was also part of the ProgJect: Ultimate Prog Rock Experience collective, so clearly, he branched out from Saga. Michael has a unique quality to his voice Iâve always really liked, and I envisioned him sounding great on âWarning Signs.â Matthew Parmenter of Discipline recorded a demo vocal (quite a good one too), and the next time Michael was in Toronto he and Terry got together and worked their magic! Thereâs a distinct quality to the vocal that captures the struggle of an erratic emotional roller coaster.â
Lyrically âWarning Signsâ is a cautionary tale for people to be on the lookout and recognize small out of the ordinary behaviors that collectively may indicate a serious problem as someoneâs age progresses or health changes. Chris Herin reveals, âMy dad delivered plausible explanations for odd behaviors and smoke screened things very well. Of course, I donât know if this was conscious or simply a coping mechanism and a natural thing to do under the circumstances; but I missed a lot of obvious clues.â
The video for âWarning Signsâ was directed by Mathew Kennedy.
Watch HERINâs âWarning Signsâ video first now courtesy of Sonic Perspectives at THIS LOCATION.
Hiding In Plain Sight will be presented in a limited digipack CD including an 8-page booklet and digitally on November 1st. Preorders are available at The Laserâs Edge webshop HERE and Bandcamp â the standard digital HERE and the 24 bit hiâ-âres HERE. Also watch the video for âThe Darkest Hourâ HERE.
Watch for additional videos from the album to be issued over the months building up to its release.
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The post HERIN: Sonic Perspectives Premieres âWarning Signsâ Video; Hiding In Plain Sight Debut By Tiles/Discipline Guitarist Featuring Guests From Rush, Jethro Tull, Porcupine Tree, Due November 1st On The Laserâs Edge first appeared on Earsplit Compound.