HIGH TIDE

High Tide's second eponymous album is a big step forward , mostly due to a better sound but also to the much greater place allowed for instrumental forrays into improvisations. However , I find the album a bit short even if the shorter track is 8,5 mins!!! Compensated by a stunning artwork, it is a seminal proto-prog or proto-prog-metal album.

If the opener does not spark any enthusiam into me , however The Joke is anything but one. The lenghty interplay between Simon House's violin and Tony Hill's hysteric guitar lines/riffs/heroic solos is very amusing and induce a short trance reinforced by a very subtile raga music influence. But clearly the centerpiece of the album is the 14 min+ Sanenonymous with an extensive soloing , great interplay and great virtuosity. The palette of sound is also enriched by KBs although they stay discreet and are not dominant.

One of those albums that could've been a cornerstone had it gotten a bigger public notice. High Tide will not really disband but will not record more albums until the mid-80's. Only Simon House will be in public domain with contributions to Third Ear band and latter Hawkwind - a band that shares a few similarities with High Tide. Prefer this album to the rather sloppy debut.