The sheer fact alone that Jim Matheos and Ray Alder are collaborating again on the creation of an album – even if it doesn’t bear the Fates Warning name – is sufficient enough to sound the alarm for the fans of the two great musicians everywhere around the world. We get in touch with Ray Alder via Zoom to find out all about their new project, North Sea Echoes, and also go back in time when Alder almost sang in Fates Warning…when John Arch was still in the band! Interview: Sakis Nikas
Rockpages.gr: You know it’s almost unbelievable but it seems that every time we are doing an interview, it’s for another band; another project of yours…and this time around it’s not an exception.
Ray Alder: (laughs) It would be nice one day to be in just one band but what are you gonna do…
Rockpages.gr: Well, if you ask any fan of yours I am sure they are gonna say that this one band should be Fates Warning.
Ray Alder: Yeah, exactly.
Rockpages.gr: So, first things first: please give us a picture of how the whole North Sea Echoes began its journey. Was it Jim that called you and asked your opinion on some new song ideas that he had?
Ray Alder: That was exactly what happened. It was really out of the blue. After we finished (Fates Warning’s last album) “Long Day Good Night”, Jim told me he didn’t wanna do another Fates album. We never discussed not collaborating on something again but it was a bit surprising when he called me and said to me that he was working on some new music. Originally it was supposed to be an instrumental kinda thing with no vocals at all but he asked me anyway to listen to the songs and see if I could come up with lyrics and vocal melodies. Of course, I agreed and Jim sent me over 3 songs. The first one that I tried working on was actually our first single “Open Book”. That song took me around 4 days; coming up with the melodies, the lyrics and the whole tracking. As a matter of fact what you listen on the album is the demo of the song that I sent to Jim so I guess it sounded good enough to keep it as it was. That was our starting point; the moment where we knew that we are on the same page.
Rockpages.gr: When Jim sent you over those first songs which were –more or less- acoustic based, was there any suggestion by your side to add more electric guitar, drums or change anything…?
Ray Alder: Not really. The songs were ready and the music was already written by Jim. He had the whole album written when he sent it to me. Obviously there were some small changes made when the vocals were laid down. Originally there were no drums at all, just electronics here and there but Jim thought that 3 songs needed acoustic drums. So, I’d say that I did the vocals and the lyrics and Jim was the mad scientist behind the whole project (laughs).
Rockpages.gr: I guess you took advantage of modern technology…you recorded the vocals at your home studio and then sent them over to Jim without actually meeting each other, right?
Ray Alder: Yeah, that’s right! We didn’t even zoom…just text, e-mail and phone when we needed to clarify something. It was just a Fates album; the same procedure.
Rockpages.gr: The title of the album… “Really Good Terrible Things”. I guess that it was Jim’s idea. Did you ask him if there was any concept behind the title?
Ray Alder: That was actually my idea. It’s funny…Jim’s the same like me on this one. When we see or hear something that’s interesting we write it down. So, I have hundreds or even thousands of notes…little things that I read or saw somewhere and maybe it would be cool to use it on a song lyric or even a title. So when it came time to come up with a title for the album, we were going through our notes and that one kinda stuck out. It’s just a weird, oxymoronic phrase. It’s not a good and it’s not a bad thing but it fits the music really well. So yeah…it was something I’d written down. I don’t know where I heard it, though…
Rockpages.gr: Speaking of lyrics and words, I gotta say that the first single which is actually the opening song of the album sets the mood for the whole record really as “Open Book”, I’d go as far as to say it’s not only representative of the album but a true highlight. It includes some of your most interesting lyrics really…what do you think?
Ray Alder: Thank you. “Open Book” was picked as the first single after a discussion that I had with Jim and Metal Blade agreed with us. Personally, it’s hard to say that it represents the whole album because there are various things on the album that are different to what “Open Book” offers but I’d say that it’s a song that really introduces people to the album and what we were trying to achieve with it. We didn’t want to put out a heavy song like “Empty” because we didn’t want to give people the wrong idea of an album packed with distorted guitars and real drums. So “Open Book” is a soft opening, you know…
Rockpages.gr: Ray, when we spread the word about your first single and album people started wondering if the songs were gonna be mellow and slow-paced…
Ray Alder: (laughs) Yeah, I understand. You know, people should expect a few up tempo but not heavy moments. If you want an up-tempo song then there’s a track called “The Mission” which is a poppy kinda song. Speaking of that song, there’s a funny story. Initially this song was not on the tracklist; it was not gonna be on the album. We had finished the recording of the album when Jim called me and said that the album is too short and we need to add one more song. So, I was really into it because I liked the song especially due to the fact that it was totally different than the rest of the bunch. I had these lyrics on my head which I kept singing over and over again (ed.note: Ray starts singing the first line of the song). I drove my wife crazy (laughs)! She said that all I hear you say for two days is this song, these lyrics…Oh, I am on a mission! “The Mission” is certainly an upbeat song but the melody kinda kept it down.
Rockpages.gr: I think you summarize it perfectly because “The Mission” has this early 80s, New Wave kinda spirit where Depeche Mode meets The Cure or something.
Ray Alder: You are absolutely right. I like Depeche Mode and I love The Cure. We were both surprised that it turned out the way it did. It’s one of my favorite songs on the album. We took a chance with it and it worked out.
Rockpages.gr: I gotta say that even though there’s the ever present melancholy which I am sure every Fates Warning fan recognizes…
Ray Alder: (laughs) yeah…we always used to joke that maybe we have a dark cloud over our heads, I don’t know! I am sorry…go ahead.
Rockpages.gr: (laughs) There’s a kinda nostalgic, even cinematic feeling on the album that creates images and I must say that your vocals have really pushed towards this direction. It’s like a bittersweet feeling. I don’t know if that makes any sense…
Ray Alder: Oh yeah, it totally makes sense and I agree. You know, I always have a hard time coming up with lyrics because I always second guessing myself and wondering if it will make any sense to the listener. On the other hand, does it matter if it makes any sense because there are so many songs out there that had become huge hits without any clear message through the lyrics? But to me it’s always a struggle. This time around, things were easier as far as the lyrics go compared to the hard time that I had when I wrote lyrics for a Fates Warning or a solo record. You are right. It seems that Jim hit the right spot with his music and created these images on my head where the lyrics just flowed easily and naturally.
Rockpages.gr: Tell us a little bit more about how you approach your work when it comes down to writing lyrics. Do you have a notebook or something full of phrases and lyrics?
Ray Alder: I guess sometimes I will think something and I will write it down immediately. You know I have so many notebooks full of lyrics…that was the time before i-phones and modern technology. I guess those notebooks go back…oh man…I’d say to the “Perfect Symmetry” days. Nowadays, I have the laptop right beside me in the studio and as I come up with a vocal melody I try to write words down. Actually, when I sing a melody I try to add lyrics to it. Sometimes they make zero sense but it helps me shaping out the whole vocal melody…what vowels to use and which words are more suitable. Stuff like that…
Rockpages.gr: I know that it’s almost impossible to judge your own work and view the album from a listener’s point of view but I want to ask you if you are absolutely happy with the final result.
Ray Alder: Oh yeah…totally! It’s funny…I am reading the Geddy Lee book at the moment and he has the same feelings that we all have…it’s so bizarre. Everything’s he says it’s exactly what we are going through. For instance, one of those things is that when you finish an album you start wondering if you could change a thing or two. But with this album, I am absolutely satisfied with how it turned out. Normally in the studio you’ve 10-12 vocal tracks and then somebody’s messes with to come up with the best one. In the end…at least sometimes, the end result is not the one you expected to hear. This time, I knew how I wanted to sound like and that’s exactly the kind of vocals that I sent over to Jim and he was completely happy with the final result. You know, I can’t even tell you how many times you record a demo and then go to the studio and the final result lacks that initial feeling that you captured with the demo. There’s some magic missing when you are doing take after take. This album is actually packed with demos. To me that’s emotion, that’s art. It might not be exactly perfect but it’s pure art.
Rockpages.gr: Given Jim’s constant need for artistic freedom, is it safe to say that you don’t know if you are gonna approach this project as a regular band or not with more records or even a short tour?
Ray Alder: We never discussed it. The plan was to do the record and that’s it really. If you ask me, I would love to do that music so if Jim wants me to do another North Sea Echoes album, I am up for it. Who knows? We just have to wait and see how this one does and how people will react to it. I don’t know what people are expecting but so far the comments are really positive.
Rockpages.gr: You know…the sheer fact that you two are working together again is sufficient enough to create interest among the fans.
Ray Alder: Yeah…that’s the scary part (laughs).
Rockpages.gr: Possibly, an interesting idea would be to do a mini acoustic tour playing those songs and various Fates Warning classics given in a different light…
Ray Alder: You know what…I actually discussed it with Jim since it’s so difficult now to tour, especially with a band like Fates Warning where Bobby (Jarzombek) and Joey (Vera) are playing in a million bands (laughs)…but we have discussed it and who knows? Maybe we will do it one day.
Rockpages.gr: Ray, can you believe that it’s been almost 37 years since you first met Jim and the odd thing is that you almost got to sing with him while John Arch was still the singer. Do you remember that party at the backyard of Syrus guitarist (John)?
Ray Alder: (laughs) I totally remember it! Fates Warning was my favorite band and I was disappointed that Jon Arch wasn’t there. I still can’t believe that Fates went to that party. Never in a million years we would do that kind of thing now…never! But everyone was young and having fun back then. But yeah…I remember the whole thing. That was before I joined Syrus…Mike (Vasquez), the old singer of Syrus was jamming with them…doing Fates Warning songs. I specifically remember Jim looking at me going like “c’mon, join us and sing a song”. But I was scared (laughs)! My memory is fading but I still remember that night.
Rockpages.gr: One of the lyrics on the chorus of “Open Book” states that Every Story Has An End. Is it safe to say that the Fates recording story has ended or we should never say never…?
Ray Alder: I can’t speak for Jim but I know that he does not want to do another Fates Warning album. To quote Jim: “that well has gone dry”. He’s happy doing other music.
Rockpages.gr: Ray, how about you? Would you do another Fates Warning record?
Ray Alder: Oh yeah, of course! I love Fates Warning’s music and I love working with Jim.
Rockpages.gr: Last but certainly not least…you know, of course, that you have a special bond with Greece. Do you miss performing here?
Ray Alder: Definitely. Greece is one of my favorite countries. Every single time that we are doing a tour, we are instantly fully aware of the fact that the Greek audience will be amazing. We always know that we can end a tour in Greece on a high note. So, we are always trying to make it as the last stop. I hope that I will get the chance to do another show in Greece before this whole thing is wrapped up. We’ll see!
