Ahead of the release of their new album Glasgow Love Story, Tide Lines have released a few singles, including the absolute summer anthem, By The Quayside.
It kicks off with a shuffley drum beat that’s perfect for dancing to. I can see myself enjoying this in a beer
garden or at a summer wedding, or perhaps while drinking a few tinnies at the campsite of a festival before heading into the arena.
As you might expect, it laden with Scottish imagery like bonnie lassies, the Barrowlands, andThe Broomielaw. In doing this, Tide Lines paint a modern nostalgic story touching on Glasgow’s industrial history.
One thing that struck me about this song is that it doesn’t have a bagpipe or accordion break
that is often characteristic of this genre. While the fiddle and accordion are still very much
present, they sit in underneath creating a vibe and allowing the song to speak for itself. Here,
I love a bagpipe solo as much as the next guy but in By The Quayside, Tide Lines have
shown confidence of the quality of the song rather than trying to trick the masses by throwing
in a cliched highland instrumental.
This is bound to be selected by couples as their first dance at their wedding for generations
to come and I should probably learn to play it as I suspect I’ll get request every time I play in
Inverness.
Overall, By The Quayside is a great track that seems to welcome the summer and is ideal
for that glorious day off in the park or a feel-good walk on the beech with headphones. It’s
catchy without being cheesy, heartfelt without being heavy. Tide Lines have struck a balance
between roots and pop polish, and the result is a track that feels timeless and local.
