{"id":26146,"date":"2025-03-01T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=26146"},"modified":"2025-02-26T20:35:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T20:35:17","slug":"tyla-j-pallas-gilding-the-lily-king-outlaw-cargo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=26146","title":{"rendered":"Tyla J. Pallas \u2018Gilding the Lily\u2019 (King Outlaw\/ Cargo)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Tyla has soundtracked about 37 of my 51 years here on Earth. For me, it all started with \u2018In the Dynamite Jet Saloon\u2019 by the Dogs D\u2019amour. The first time I heard them was a life-changing experience where the band resonated deep in my soul through their songs and music. I still vividly remember the moment. Over the years, Tyla has continued to create a catalogue of songs that I can tie to specific moments in my life. I am not sure what the total number of releases between the bands and his solo work currently is. I might need to do a count after writing this review since it will take a while and may require a calculator. Over the past few years, Tyla has continued to strike gold for me with the Balladmongrels and the latest version of Dogs D\u2019amour where he has incorporated some new elements in the likes of \u2018Tree Bridge Cross,\u2019 magical acoustic moments like \u2018Ghosts,\u2019 and bluesy diamonds like \u2018Serpents Kiss.\u2019 After 40 plus years of writing and performing, the perceived expectation is often musical artists cannot continue to develop and expand. With Tyla, there has always been an ability to blend the familiar with some new tricks. I think back to the acoustic brilliance of his first self-release \u2018Nocturnal Nomad\u2019 which is another of my all time favorite albums. Why have I dragged on and on about all this? \u2018Gilding the Lily\u2019 showcases new twists into Tyla\u2019s sound but also recalls magical moments from his musical past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyla has described this as a \u2018guitar album,\u2019 and there is definitely an abundance of lead guitar across these 18 songs with Jamie Turnbull providing plenty of opportunities to break out an air guitar in a way that I have not done since the likes of the \u2018Girl Behind the Glass\u2019 and \u2018Rollover.\u2019 Ironically, the album starts off with one of a couple of songs that have not totally grabbed me in \u2018Baptism of Fire.\u2019 It has grown on me with each listen, but there is some vocal repetition that can distract from what is going on musically. There is great piano work in the song, and it does start the album off with a rocking feel. \u2018Cadillac Man\u2019 is another upbeat rocker with some excellent lead guitar weaved through the song. As the lead single from the album, it is an inspired choice. This is prime material that would be just as home back on \u2018Errol Flynn\u2019 as it is here and still sounds fresh. The backing vocals are excellent as well. Next up is another of my favourites in \u2018Glory Days.\u2019 This is an acoustic rocker that recalls \u2018Nocturnal Nomad\u2019 or \u2018In Life In Love In Dreams.\u2019 The strings provide great depth to the song, especially the violin that breaks up that first chorus from the second verse. Tyla\u2019s vocals here are outstanding. The electric guitar provides great accents to the song and provides some brief tasteful air guitar moments as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The title track slows things down for another stellar vocal performance. Musically, it would not be out of place on \u2018The Life and Times of a Ballad Monger\u2019 or \u2018A Graveyard of Empty Bottles.\u2019 The mix allows each instrument space to breathe and paint the musical canvas. We return to more rockers with \u2018Gunfight\u2019 opening with a lot of electric guitar and musically akin a little bit to the \u2018Bloody Hellfire\u2019 album. It is noisy and hopefully has an opportunity to shine in the live setting. Writing this, it dawns on me that this one and \u2018Baptism of Fire\u2019 might have been swapped if I did the sequencing. \u2018Killerstown\u2019 showcases another excellent vocal on a midtempo rocker that again recalls the likes of \u2018The Life and Times of a Ballad Monger\u2019 album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n