Album Details

• Artist: Theory Of Tides
• Album: Theory Of Tides
• Label: Sonic Release Records
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: archelon on 2009-10-23

I'll just get something out of the way first off - I have an immediate reaction to bands with 'theory' in the title. I don't like theory, it's too wishy-washy and people spend so much time debating and discussing it to get any real work done. When the word 'theory' appears anywhereit makes me think of a pretentious idiot sitting in a room somewhere smoking stupidly expensive cigars, brushing his moustache and boring an interviewer with how the name for his band came about. How I manage to immerse myself in the uppity art world, I don't know.

So naturally I was apprehensive about this album - two arty people in love, making an album with two 'theory's on the front cover. Shudder. And on paper, it's a very arty sound too - it's like alternative trance music, with breif smatterings of hip-hop/latin beats. Arty, yes - but does it work? Actually, yes.

Tracks like 'Elated' have an Ibiza-in-summer feel and a deep house beat underneath Mirana's distinctive vocals, nothing too complex but a clever idea. 'Hour Of Pain' is built on a similar idea but this time with a swishing cymbal beat and keyboard chords, and again it works - the vocal fades and quiet bass additions are spot on.

I think this album has two main let-downs - one, the songs never build to much more than they start at, and two, the lyrics. There is no build but no tension either - this would be fine, because it shifts the focus to the lyrics... but those aren't great a lot of the time. It's a shame because they are nicely sung and very well-placed: "will you or even think of me... at all?"(Hour of Pain)

I think the trancey nature of this album is better than the rock one, and the more ambient/electronic tracks seem to have a more loving feel them, both mood-wise and production-wise. I can only hope this transcendance indicates a new direction for them - one equally as interesting.

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