Established tropical folk duo Hi Tide return this season with a highly-anticipated new album. Perfectly capturing the essence of their genre-fusing optimistic sound, Caribbean Way promises to uplift and entertain, with ten freshly recorded songs from the unmistakable Hi Tide creatives Shane Allenger and Sean Hennings.
From humble beginnings, the soulful rasp and character of a leading voice meets with a single guitar strum, before building with blissful brightness and energy. Caribbean Way is a gorgeous title and opening song, a catchy summer breeze with a beating heart of gratitude to inspire and comfort.
Next we get a kind of ska vibe pouring through, a kicked-up rhythm but a softer, smoother vocal lead, as I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight resounds – a romantic ode to the sound of bands like UB40, with a twist of something Jason Mraz-esque on occasion. It’s great songwriting from the legend Bob Dylan, with a colourful and creative live revamp, which fits the mood of this album well.
The mighty Island In The Sun later makes an appearance, a story and scenes comparing the grey streets of London to the brightness of time spent with a loved one. It’s a pop-fusion classic, with another satisfying melodic peak, and the acoustic guitar sound is beautifully complimentary.
The classic Daydream brings a grittier energic performance and soulful, Gospel-like echoes, with a funky electro subtlety to the setup. The Cat Empire appear channelled somewhat stylistically – another versatile redirection from the expected. All the while, Hi Tide hold close to their own vocal and performative nuance, and as the mellow alt-folk sound of Whiskey Shot – a personal highlight – carves out a humble country lane, that quality shines under a new and beautifully intimate light.
Lucky brings a modest dash of something like reggae to the instrumental acoustic space, with extensive verse lines feeling again mildly Cat Empire or something like Will and The People in both creativity and personality. The songwriting is genuinely original, interesting and somehow both unpredictable and fiercely satisfying.
A touch of RnB lets the lo-fi electric guitar flavours of Simple add jazz and imaginative space to the process, before High On You provides another favourite – a perfect folk-pop fusion of qualities; catchy, conceptually bold, musically unconfined by genre, poetically romantic and relatable.
We then get a striking switch to heavier rock tones and slick progressions, for the ever-recognisable yet brilliantly artistic new take on the legendary soul of Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.
For the curtain call, the unique songwriting and snappy but expressive stylistics of Hi Tide delivers one last stand-out song, as Spot Bay Blues brings the passion, grit, energy, and self-belief, for a defiant and anthemic ode to better living and better days.
The natural talent of Hi Tide as both musical performers and songwriters stands taller than ever throughout this sensational and often stunning new project. The originals and covers alike are a sheer pleasure to let fill the space, it’s an uplifting and warming collection, but one that also makes you take a step back, appreciate the ability and character, the vocal traits and positivity – so much so that hopefully you’ll seek out a live show from Hi Tide in the very near future.
Find Hi Tide on Facebook, Instagram & their Website.
