TIME AND TIDE

And now we have reached the ending for Greenslade as a band in the 70's. Ït was a very intense and exciting journey, providing the prog community with many a gem. Unfortunately we are not leaving Greenslade on a high, looking out over a flourishing civilization. We are, rather, leaving them in some sort of nadir. Wait, I don't mean that they didn't leave us trinkets of worth on "Time and tide", beacuse they did, but the pickninck basket is largely comprised of stale bread and too little sustenance.

There is an understandable and often wise notion to kick off an album with a song that truly packs a punch. I mean, you want to make a statement, no? Sad to say the statement delivered by Greenslade by way of "Animal farm" makes me wave my arms in the air leave us bot in total disagreement. This is simply a horn heavy rock'n'roll song of the kind that leaves my face looking odd from the displeasure I am experiencing. What happened, I wonder. "Newsworth" holds some worth but it's not a fantastic song. "Time" is a short piece, only 1 minute and 15 seconds, but is a small treat. A choir over a cembalo (is it?). Really nice and the next track "Tide" is also wonderful with it's high level of mellotron. And then we recognise Greenslade. They're back with a playful instrumental called "Catalan". This one is probably the best track on the album. Sorry to say the band makes a skip back to the beginning and decide to "rock out" on the pub rock groove of "The flattery stakes". Not very effective. I think "Waltz for a fallen idol" is an okay ballad, "The ass's ears" quite a powerful track partially reminding me of Quatermass and this one I like. "Doldrums" is an atmospheric ballad-y sort of song and works alright with me. The ending "Gangsters" is quite charming little piece with great keyboard sounds and quite a drive.

When the song is over and the album has ceased it's spinning and I'm sitting there, I wonder: What the hell did I just listen to? Well, I listened to an album of sometime reasonably good and accessible prog (albeit with a good dose of pop), a few really misplaced rock songs and a couple of really talented progressive songs. If I was to direct someone through the best pieces on the smorgasbord there aren't very many courses to recommend. "Time" and "Tide", obviously, and "Catalan" are well worth trying. Those are really nice pieces. There are a few other bits and pieces I find tantalizing but overall this is quite a bland, a bit tired and only partially inspired album. I find that quite sad considering that "Spyglass guest" that came before was such an inspired affair. I suppose every band and member there of have their limits. In 1973 they released two abnormally great albums, followed by a third equally brilliant record in 1974. If the well ran a bit dry after that or the bucket just seemed to be full of holes, draining the inspiration out, I can understand that. "Time and tide" isn't a complete loss, not a total disaster. When the critique has been aired what remains is a partially charming, sometime great and occasionally bland album with a stunning cover. "Time and tide" is not the place to start when discovering Greenslade, it's the place where you end up after devouring the brilliance of the first three albums. My rating lands on three stars but I would rather call it "okay" than "good".