After parting ways with lead singer Tilian Pearson in late 2010 over his interest in pursuing Saosin’s vacant vocal spot at the time, fans wondered if prog rock outfit Tides of Man might have lost too integral a component of their sound for them to successfully carry on. Pearson’s range, timbre, and sheer belting prowess are, after all, akin to that of Circa Survive’s Anthony Green, Coheed’s Claudio Sanchez, et al., making it no easy task to replicate or find. Nevertheless, Tides did what they could and tested out replacements over the next two years to no avail, and though Pearson demoed with Saosin, nothing more significant materialized beyond that, and he eventually found himself as frontman of screamo act Dance Gavin Dance instead. The uncertainty of the times did little to dampen Tides’s ambition, however, and in June 2013 they launched an Indiegogo page with the hope that fans would support a new, unexpected project: a full length, all instrumental album entitled Young and Courageous.
It was a risky endeavor, waving a healthy price tag, but the band was confident that their trials and tribulations had been building to this point; they knew it was time to reach out and assess the demand. Luckily, many fans understood and appreciated the scope and merit of their work, and the campaign exceeded its initial fundraising goal with ease. All that remained was whether or not this unfiltered, back-to-roots experiment could both deliver on the investment and hold its own against two very successful predecessors. Ultimately, we received what was promised, but also much, much more.
Young and Courageous is a lush, post-rock journey, one that winds, climbs, and falls. It sets out to whisk you far away, to explore hidden depths, to chance danger. In production value alone, it’s quickly and strikingly apparent that Tides used every cent exactly as they pledged. The soundscape is fat, complex, and layered. Professionalism is everywhere, from the mesmerizing tone textures to their seamless integration with one another to the downright dexterous chops of the men wielding the instruments.
Molded with extreme precision and care, these 11 tracks manage consistency without boredom and innovation without mess. “Desolate. Magnificent.” is the tender yet gloomy opener of Young and Courageous, an airy expanse. It establishes a soft sort of loneliness before, in the last 30 seconds, taking on heavy distortion that serves as both the gunshot at the start of a race and a stern warning: something to the effect of good luck, toughen up, and be careful out there. “Mountain House” soon follows, exploding as the triumphant, adrenaline-fueled first steps into the unknown. The track’s pacing is relentless and exhilarating, and it makes the inevitable dips like “Drift” and “Young and Courageous” all the more potent, even going so far as to mitigate the surprising fact that the title track is a little less audacious than you might have hoped.
Of course, it can’t be all sunshine and bravado, and out of necessity, immense skill, or both, Tides glides up and down a wide spectrum of dynamics and moods. They recognize that, without words and voice as a lifeline, it becomes imperative to keep the listener curious and engaged by any means possible. So in comes the bright tinkling on “All The Years,” the perpetually swirling mesh of guitar and synth on “We Were Only Dreaming,” and the ominous wall-of-sound distortion on “Keep Me Safe.” Continual intrigue and progression are what drive each part of this release, but it’s hard (though not impossible) to enjoy all of the subtleties and rich mechanics without devoting yourself to the approximately hour-long jaunt from front to back.
These songs, in essence, protest isolation, and while the casual listener may not have the patience or critical mind for contemplating extended spells of interweaving guitar riffs and ambiance, this is only a minor setback in the overarching scheme of Young and Courageous. In the end, Tides conceived a very specific vision, and a very specific audience provided the necessary materials to execute said vision, and what everyone is left with is a vibrant, satisfying album that defies simple categorization and invites a realm of experience rather than just passive consumption.
Pick it up, dive in, and let go.
Rating: 4/5