SCIENTIFIC

Here we have an album every Ozric Tentacles fan should be keen on .. if he/she is able to reach for an exemplar of course, because it seems that TIDAL FLOOD do not exist anymore. Only distributed by themselves 'Scientific' holds two live videos and five relatively short songs. Not much for the extend, the entire length - but what you hear is top-notch space rock provided with a considerable fusion touch. Four greek musicians from Attica/Greece are responsible for the sound, three of them are coming with sample and synthesizer skills.

Unfortunately only this album belongs to the band's legacy ... if you don't count a demo containing three songs which came out two years before. But eventually they are also included on this one. Speaking of Ozric Tentacles relations I mean the earlier, less house music coloured phase. So we have fantastic synth additions, quirky, lively, catchy and bubbling which alone are making this album to an enjoyment. Helium Polites (an alias name I'm sure) is drumming powerful with a considerable jazzy note.

7tide and Tidal Me are fantastic compositions, representative for the band's style, very groovy with a driving rhythm and tricky time signature changes. When George Stavroulakis uses the guitar synth I'm always remembered at Allan Holdsworth's style ... and indeed even the live recordings are more of a jazz rock/fusion outfit. The atmospheric Raff Dub 01 smells like ... dub of course, playful, you will find ambient synth patterns, mystic oriental and spooky gimmicks swirling all around.

The Mahaya Puzzle points to a (heavier) fusion direction once more, nervous drums, expressive, tension-filled where Helium turns back close to the Ozric Tentacles style. This album is surprisingly good and it's a pity ... I don't understand why TIDAL FLOOD gave up so early ... they seemingly didn't have shot their bolt, at least Stavroulakis went on with other jazz (rock) oriented projects. Never mind - I hope I could make it clear that it's worth it to search for this progressive space rock rarity.