MUSIC REVIEW: TIDE LINES – Dreams We Never Lost

TIDE LINES, a four piece from the Highlands of Scotland, blend the influence of traditional Gaelic music with Electronic sound. This musical blend tells the narrative of the relationship between rural and urban spaces in Scotland.

As an Orkney Island native, who is an immigrant to Toronto Canada, I came across Tide Lines and their debut album, Dreams We Never Lost, at a time I needed it most. From the rural isolation of island living, to an anonymous urban mass, the cultural difference is surreal and overwhelming. There is comfort to be found in familiarity, and this is what Tide Lines chime into. The familiarity of understanding the importance of place in growing up, even after moving on.

Released on the 2nd of June 2017, Dreams We Never Lost, is a 14 track album featuring eight original compositions and two traditional Gaelic numbers. The bagpipe used in unison with electric instruments brings the traditional instrument into a relevant soundscape. This audibly demonstrates a cornerstone in Scottish culture that reflects the archaic impression of kailyard Scotland moving through to the urbanised Scotland of the 21st century.

The song writing by lead singer, Robert Robertson, encapsulates the identity and dreams of youth in rural Scotland as they transition to living in urban settings in both Scotland and across the world. This speaks of the potential of young people growing up in Scotland, sending the message to stay humble and remember where you are from, no matter where life takes you. A poignant message for the nostalgics among us who dreamed in past, live in the present and still dream to shape the future.

Each word is sung with a genuine confidence, reflecting the band’s own move from rural communities in the Highlands to their resident city, Glasgow. These feelings are visualised by the album artwork, painted by Daisy Williams. An iconic highland skyline blends into the equally as iconic industrial skyline of Glasgow. The Highlands champion over the industrial skyline, portraying Scotland’s historic heritage against the newness of the industrial revolution. The blue gradient that fades to a white hue shows the vibrant colours of the country against the modern and brightly lit city.

The album’s single, Far Side of the World,  evokes these feelings held by the artwork. The song emcompasses a love story that spans across oceans, touching on both lovesickness and homesickness. The repeated chorus,

“Cause I want to dance with a Highland girl

Where the skies reach out for miles

I want to feel the breeze of the Hebrides

On the far side of the world”

Not only does the protagonist sing of a love for someone he knew in youth, the longing for that love is connected to his sense of home. Exploring love within place demonstrates the difficulty of moving on, be it from a person or place. Whether you are living in Scotland, or on the far side of the world, Tide Lines have created an album to make you feel at home wherever you are.