Tidal Flood - "7Tide Demo"
(self-released 2000, multimedia CD
Tidal Flood - "7Tide Demo"
(self-released 2000, multimedia CD
From Aural Innovations #17 (September 2001)
From sunny Greece, Tidal Flood is an instrumental powerhouse who make no bones about their Ozric Tentacles influences. Though the band has been in existence since 1996, this 3-song mp3 demo is the closest they have to a release right now, though these and other tracks are available at their Mp3.com web site. The band consists of George Stavroulakis on guitar, Vasilis Antonakos on synths, George Karras on bass, and Helias Politis on drums.
So sure, there are moments that are blatantly Ozrics cloned. But the musicianship in this band would make the Ozrics jaws hit the ground. There are actually elements of the band's sound that are distinctly Tidal Flood, particularly the jazz influences that most members claim are apparent in the music. Stavroulakis' guitar typically leads the proceedings and his playing has a jazzy style that helps to give the band a bit of their own personality. Likewise, Karras' bass has a jazz funky, sometimes zheul-ish quality that holds it's own against the guitar. In fact, the two play together in a jazz fusion band apart from Tidal Flood. Antonakos' synths certainly give a distinctive Ozrics flavor to the music, but he also has several tracks at Mp3.com under the Biozoid moniker which reveals his interest in drum 'n bass, Kraftwerk, and progressive rock. Bottom line... these guys rock so hard in space and the playing is so impressive that you'll be chomping at the bit for a full length official release. Highly recommended.
For more information you can visit Tidal Flood at their web site at: http://www.tidalflood.com.
Plenty of songs are available at their Mp3.com web site at: http://www.mp3.com/tidalflood.
And if that's not enough, check out synth player Antonakos' Biozoid project at: http://www.mp3.com/biozoid.
Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz