Search - High Tide :: Sea Shanties

A FIERCE NATURE

Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 07/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Often enough those who prove to be the real pioneers in music are punished for their talent. But while denied an audience, history rarely denies acknowledgment of the true breakthroughs. Tony Hill and High Tide seem to the perfect prototype for that neglect, and that always overdue respect. Proof enough that this music just won't go away. In his short and pitch-perfect notes to these remasters, we're told the music lies "somewhere between hope and despair, a blend of sweet and disturbing impressions". Burning in all directions, High Tide marks the practical perfection and origin of the guitar / violin format for rock, here employing luminous filaments instead of the usual strings. Revisited and refined some years later with King Crimson's "Lark's Tongues", the work of High Tide reverberates to this day with releases as recent as "Sky Saw" (look it up, right here on Amazon). But even the King, four or five years after this release, at moments seemed hard pressed to match the furies set loose here, and now made all the more incandescently terrifying by 21st-century remastering. Even without the remarkable unreleased material, "Sea Shanties" is worth your time, your money, your attention and your undying gratitude."

Wicked rock that slipped between the cracks

Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 02/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"High Tide was pushed to me as a great, hard-rocking psych that somehow didn't achieve success when it was first released. After checking it out so many years after it was released, I totally agree. Sea Shanties is a relentless barrage of rock--the rhythm section is tight and heavy, the guitar is mind-blowingly intricate and gnarly, and the effect-laden violin matches the lead guitar in weight, making High Tide a unique hybrid in rock history.



Sea Shanties is definitely doom rock--singer Tony Hill gloomily intones some pretty dark lyrics about the earth, death etc. (just check out the first track for an example) with a delivery that isn't unlike Jim Morrison's. Except, in this case, Hill takes a few more risks with the high range.



After a couple listens to Sea Shanties, I was really surprised and impressed at their fusion of ridiculously heavy hard rock with folk elements (listen to the epic barnstormer "Death Warmed Up" for the English folk flavors grinding out of that violin bow, supported by the screeching guitar). Not only is there a folk element, there's definitely a classical element too--just check out the guitar/violin runs in "Walking Down Their Outlook," probably my favorite track. This record goes a lot of places, but it's hard-rocking all the way through.



Probably the best songs are the ones where the doubling and call/response of the guitar and violin reach towering heights, like "Death Warmed Up." On all tracks, though, you can hear that the band took great care in composing a unique blend of both instruments.



If you like Led Zeppelin (a contemporary of High Tide, and one of the few bands that was rocking as hard), the Doors, or any early 70's psych and metal and like to hear music with a diverse range of influences, Sea Shanties will probably pleasantly surprise you--there's still some great music from the early 70's waiting to be discovered!



Lastly, this is definitely the version to buy--it's got several bonus tracks that are sometimes demo-quality but still feature some blinding musicianship."