The trouble with assigning genres nowadays is that as they become increasingly crossed, hybridised and mutated, the evermore obscure sub-sub cross-genres become pretty much meaningless, especially when seemingly incompatible styles are mixed.
It's hard to tell if Last Tide are being highly innovative in drawing on 60s psychedelia and shoegaze, punk and grunge to create 'dense, atmospheric rock grounded by strong pop melodies,' or if they're simply struggling with their identity.
On the strenght of this, their debut EP, it's a bit of both. Vocal duties are shared between Nate Frey and Libby Dorot, and the result is something of a band of two halves.
The tracks led by Frey tend to be at the rockier, heavier end of the band’s spectrum, as exemplified by opener 'A Traitor in My Mind,' which suffers from rather muffled production. 'Shapeshifter' is an altogether different animal. Libby Dorrot's vocals are melodic and complimented magnificently by huge, spiralling shoegaze guitars.
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The slow-building and epic closer, 'Shadows in the Rain' clocks in at over 8 minutes and is a fitting climax, its tempestuous guitars and reverb-drenched vocals encapsulating everything last Tide are about.
http://www.myspace.com/lasttide
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