- Rock/Pop/Alternative
- 2009
- Buy the CD
Reviewed by Mike Farley
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Ball’s "Mix" kicks things off and the fact that this earthy, dark, vibey song is the opening track gives you an indication of what’s to come. Another hypnotic Ball-driven track, "Winter Park Slope," is also dark and brooding and strangely addictive, as is the poppy yet psychedelic-tinged "Airstream Driver." As for Ottewell, who has the more recognizable voice of the two singers, there are some dissonant melodies, but he manages to tie things together with huge lift in his choruses, as he does on "Little Pieces," "Natural Reaction" and "Very Strange." Ottewell also shows a softer side on the mostly acoustic and powerful "Bone Tired," a good example of the band’s experimentation with loops and counter-melodies.
With a lot of A New Tide recorded in different parts of the world at different times by the various members of Gomez, who are scattered around the globe now, it should be no surprise that the album is a bit eclectic, if not overly experimental. So if you were looking forward to this new Gomez record with the anticipation of a kid the day before Christmas, you might take a deep breath and temper your expectations a bit. That doesn’t mean A New Tide is bad, and that doesn’t mean it won’t grow on you, but it seems like after the mainstream success of How We Operate, there wasn’t anywhere to go but down a notch or two.
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