Tides - So Close

Buy So Close on iTunes here
Buy Tides debut EP Breathless here

I'll confess I didn't know much about the pop-funk four piece better known as Tides, but one play of their effusive smash-in-waiting So Close and I was desperate to find out more. The lads have built quite the following over the past two years thanks to an effortlessly likeable debut EP (Breathless - links above), enthusiastically received live shows (including opening for my beloved Loveable Rogues) and this eminently high quality new single (above) that should propel them to the next level of their career. So Close has actually been out for a while now but a good song will always get it's day and you should never feel bad about turning up late to the party when it's in full swing and is actually this good. Set to a propulsive and vibrantly energetic percussion that's ably surrounded by jangling, textured guitar riffs giving a pleasing wall of sound it's a peppy score for the narrative of the lyrics. Essentially So Close is a love song about how fast feelings can consume you and make burgeoning love feel like a rollicking rollercoaster ride that's both terrifying and thrilling. Lead singer Aaron imbues his delivery of the words with a sense of wide eyed wonder and tangible excitement making for a really vivid portrayal of young love that anyone can relate to. He has a great singing style with some awesome falsetto that adds to the wild, cantering nature of the song (which, while I think about it, makes the instrumental as much a part of the narrative as the vocal ensuring this feels like a brilliantly meshed collaborative band effort). It all coalesces to make for a soaring anthem with an infernally catchy refrain that stays with you - sure sign of it's enduring nature. If you are down in London on Monday (27th October), make sure you catch them at Showcase Live because it's bound to be an amazing show...