It doesn’t take long for Seattle-based Tidelines to demonstrate their obvious talent and potential on this debut self-titled record, but what does take a little longer is an appreciation for the many nuances lurking underneath the surface. If you’re looking for a quick fix, then this may not be the record for you, but if you’re willing to invest time in Tidelines, you’ll be rewarded with a deeply immersive melodic experience that sets this band apart.
The high-register vocals of Spencer Corbin over the gradual build of ‘Road Less Travelled’ immediately projects Circa Survive and as the record continues into ‘Wellspring’ Anthony Green remains a consistent talisman, however the faster tempo and shades of aggressive vocals are more aligned to Saosin’s recent comeback record ‘Along the Shadow’. Completing a titanic series of influences, the interwoven vocal harmonies of ‘Wishful Thinking’ bring The Receiving End of Sirens to mind, but while Tidelines tastefully use these bands for guidance, this record is very much their own.
Contrary to their peers, the band are less concerned with serving up hooks and catchy choruses to accentuate their compositions, but rather use sumptuous melodies and uplifting, emotionally charged harmonies to lure you in instead. Corbin’s vocals rest just above the instrumentals at all times, emphasising the atmospheric undertones but never dominating them for his own gains.
To some, this might make the vocals too passive; this vocal direction will not plant hooks in your head that leaves you singing them for days, rather they hold your attention in the moment, immersing you deeply into each song as a collective journey that incorporates every member of the band. Each vocal note and arrangement seems hand-picked to compliment the surrounding guitars and every change in tempo of the drums happens at precisely the right moment. This flawless orchestration between each element of the band’s sound makes every song a masterpiece of melody that, while not being instantly captivating, pays huge dividends over repeated listens.
The seamless connection between the vocals, guitars and rhythm section is highlighted even more by ‘Birthright’, in that it’s the only track on the record where it doesn’t work. The slower tempo is a welcome dose of variation, but as the instrumentals shrink into the background with minimalistic notes, the vocals become exposed and don’t do enough on their own to carry the melody of the song. Although it’s a brief hiccup across an otherwise flawless album, it does prove the effectiveness of the band’s balance elsewhere, thereby enhancing the remaining tracks as the album draws to an end.
‘Tidelines’ is a majestically constructed record that has the kind of balance most bands could spend a career trying to perfect. Possessing this level of refinement at the debut album stage is breathtaking and puts Tidelines on the list of bands to keep a very close eye on in the future.
MARK JOHNSON