Ever heard of a progressive rock album that can make liberals quiver, feeling out of step with their own chaotic version of 'progress'? That's Greenslade's 'Time and Tide,' released in 1975 in the post-Sixties era that everyone claims changed everything, but really didn’t change much besides people’s hair and pants. Greenslade, an English progressive rock band who knew how to hit the political notes beneath layers of complex melodies, produced this album, bridging traditional musical mastery with audacious innovation.
The 'who' involves the British band Greenslade, an ensemble whose lineup included Dave Greenslade, Tony Reeves, Dave Lawson, and Andy McCulloch, virtuosos of rock keyboards, bass, vocals, and drums, respectively. The 'what' is 'Time and Tide,' a concept album intertwining the ebb and flow of time with deeply cerebral themes paired with intricate arrangements. Released in March 1975, 'when' the world tossed about in post-hippie disillusionment. Their niche sound found them a place 'where' they took root most firmly—among those preferring quality and substance over the glossy façade of mainstream tunes. As for 'why,' they dared to venture outside the predictable, offering tunes bold enough to stand up to the times, much like today’s voices that aren’t afraid to raise the flag of reason amidst chaos.
Track one, 'Animal Farm,' stirs the pot, a track expressing more than Orwellian dystopia. It jabs a finger at ideologies feigning equality but delivering the opposite, a message conservatives understand all too well when faced with grand hollow promises.
Then there’s 'The Ass’s Ears,' a cheeky piece smashing pretentiousness. The instrumental blend of bass and keyboards speaks louder than any cleverly written lyric could hope to. It’s as if they’re challenging today’s overblown activism with understated brilliance and elegance, stopping the noise merely to enjoy genius.
'Newsworth' and its rollicking nature nudges those easily swayed by media narratives. In a time where 'fake' news is contested more than taxes, these tracks warn of a world led astray not by lack of information but by its overload—a cautionary tale resonating with those advocating for balanced perspectives.
'Time' isn’t just the title of a track but a self-contained epic. It catapults the listener into introspection, hitting hard much like real conservatives hammering home truths lost in liberal rhetoric. There's something about acknowledging the inevitable passage of time that highlights the absurdities of wishful collectivist thinking.
And 'Tide,' its companion track, sweeps listeners into the rhythmic pull of life's guaranteed unpredictability. In a sense, it echoes why some of us can’t adhere to the concept of enforced equality—it’s against the natural order shown in every rolling wave.
If you skip to 'Tide,' you’ll miss the snazzy 'Waltz for a Fallen Idol.' Reviving classical influences characterized by rich, melodic progressions transcending simplistic mantras, it showcases how tradition elegantly dovetails into new frontiers. Greenslade succeeds in keeping alive the dying art of respecting the past while maneuvering into unexplored realms.
'Sailor's Hornpipe' pre-dating 'Pirates of the Caribbean,’ proves they were charting troubled waters long before anyone thought it cool. It's an exhilarating instrumental piece hinting at freedom and adventure that only individual exploration—not groupthink—can truly provide.
'Catalan' lays bare a medley of influences, effortlessly combining cultures. Evoking the spirit of genuine diversity, not the forced variety prescribed for public acceptance today, it blends what’s naturally complimentary.
The album’s artwork alone, created by Patrick Woodroffe, pulls you into an imaginative setting, challenging visual boundaries as much as auditory ones. If albums were judged on cover art alone in the vinyl stacks crowded by passable releases, 'Time and Tide' would still triumph—much like sound policies outlasting short-lived trends.
A critical note, 'The Flattery Stakes,' lashes out humorously at the vanity masquerading as virtuous leadership. A timeless message rides here, reflecting dismissiveness toward inflated egos parading as saviors without results or accountability.
At its core, 'Time and Tide' is a trip down the lanes less traveled by the timid and trendy. It's an album not just to enjoy but to experience intensely, reminding us all to critique, analyze, and appreciate rather than conform. In a musical world that’s awash with noise, Greenslade dares to be singular, bold, and unapologetic—a political conservative’s album serving as catalyst, reminder, and cultural relic all at once.