Customer Reviews

Time and Tide

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The debut solo album from Basia (last name Trzetrzelewska) continues her collaboration with Danny White, the two of whom had previously worked together as members of the group Matt Bianco on the 1984 album "Who's Side Are You On". That album includes the popular "Half A Minute", which has Basia on lead vocals, and it clearly paved the way for this album. Basia has a somewhat muted presence on "Whose Side Are You On", not contributing to any of the songwriting, and contributing far less vocally than one, in hindsight, would expect. On one hand, this "Time And Tide" album is cut from a similar cloth as "Whose Side Are You On", but I find this disc to be a huge step forward. With better songwriting, a less gimmicky/ less 'dated' sound, and of course, Basia completely taking over the lead vocals, the pair struck gold here--this is a terrific album, simply put.

Basia is out of this world as a vocalist. She's got a total command of her huge, riveting voice, alternating brilliantly between tender, seductive passages and powerful, thrilling climaxes, and she does so without shipping over into show-biz schmaltz. She's got a huge vocal range that she gets a ton of mileage out of. Although the liner notes don't explicitly say so, I believe Basia also handles ALL of the harmony vocals on the entire CD, to glorious effect.

Basia and her "silent partner" Danny White produced the album, and they also handled all of the songwriting except for Peter Ross' lyrics on 5 of the 10 songs (including the US top 10 adult contemporary hits "Promises" and "New Day For You").

Inspiration and class run rampant here. There are loads of great instrumental flavorings such as the sudden blasts of 'xylophone' (synthesizer?) on "Run For Cover", moody 'clavinet' that comes in on the second verse of "Freeze Thaw", vibraphone on "New Day For You", funky electric guitar on "Prime Time TV", and Fender Rhodes-style keyboards on many of the songs.

On the one hand, this is a dance-pop album, with a majority of the songs being uptempo and beat-oriented--the sassy "Run For Cover", the raging "Freeze Thaw", the upbeat yet contemplative "New Day For You", and the slyly humorous "Prime Time TV" (partly reminiscent of "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung) are all mind-bogglingly catchy and infectious. At the same time, this is a mature adult contemporary pop album, with lots of fun and witty lyrics and barely anything that even remotely resembles sappiness. Songs such as "Promises" and "New Day For You", as their respective chart placings indicate, fall easily into both categories.

Unlike a lot of dance-pop records, this one DOESN'T come to a grinding halt with the ballads. Actually, the only time they really slow the tempo is on the hit title track, an excellently tuneful ballad. Other quasi-ballads like the breezy, stripped-down "From Now On" and the Astrud Gilberto tribute "Astrud" give you something of a breather from the more rousing tracks, and yet they're taken at brisk tempos and saturated with Latin rhythms, and like virtually everything, these songs are wonderfully melodic and catchy.

Anything at all to complain about? Well, there are some quite minor gripes (few things in life are truly perfect, I suppose). Basia's warning cries of "I'll get mad!" on the swinging "How Dare You" are corny, but otherwise the song is in the same league as the aforementioned dance-pop gems contained herein. "Promises" has a slightly sugary, repeated chorus, but it's still a fine, fine way to start the album. And the gently-swinging "Miles Away", although a fine song in its own right, does reek ever-so-slightly of being a forced attempt to end the album on an upbeat feel-good note. These are just minor gripes of an overall terrific CD.

And I can't finish without making a special mention of "New Day For You", one of the best pop songs of the '80s, a song so great it practically makes the whole CD worth owning on its own. With a looping three chord keyboard sequence seemingly nicked from Sister Sledge's "Reach Your Peak" (and later 'borrowed' again by George Michael for "Too Funky"), this is one of those songs with such a deathless groove that it just never gets old no matter how many times I hear it. Basia's vocals never come across any better, and of course, this is the one with that orgasmic extended high note which she belts out in full voice at the end of the first chorus, and the whole song works absolutely ravishingly.

As an interesting sidenote, Danny White is the younger brother of Peter White. Peter, who is probably best-known for his lengthy association with Al Stewart, even appears on this record--witness his unmistakable acoustic guitar solo on "Promises".

If you're fanatical about 1980s pop-rock/ dance-pop, this is a unique and indispensable entry for your collection. "Time And Tide" definitely ranks as a must-have.

I have owned this album since 1988. I have recently rediscovered it and have not stopped playing it since. The contrast between 'How Dare You' (full of attitude and swing) and 'Miles Away'(ever sweet) is refreshing. The title song 'Time and Tide' will be familiar to anyone who owned a radio in the late '80's, however every song on this album is wonderful. Definitely one of those albums you will put on 'repeat'.

Neo-Bossa Nova and pre-Vida Loca jazz pop from the Euroangel Basia. It is simply brilliant. You will not get tired of it. My faves are the home and hearth cut "Miles Away", with its walking bassline, and "Primetime TV". We need more of her jams on the radio, because once the audience finds her, she will always please them.

That line I wrote at my title was in Polish, for any of you who are curious. I have great associations with this album. This was my introduction to Polish pop, and I have my first-generation maternal grandmother to thank for that. She wanted me to appreciate and have an awareness about my mother's cultural heritage, since that was all I knew about, not knowing my Venezuelan father. I was about five when she bought this for me, the year it came out in 1987. Even at that young age, this was one of my favorite cassettes to play. The combination of Basia's soothing, soaring and tender vocals, with backbeats and percussive rhythms borrowed from and inspired by Brazilian samba and bossa nova was immediately engaging, easy to listen to and very catchy. It did give me a sense of true cultural pride to hear our Polish Sade singing gorgeous songs that were getting considerable airplay on U.S. smooth jazz and pop stations!

I like all of the tracks on this CD, but some of my favorites, by far, are "Promises" (which warmly hooks us in with warm tropical rhythms and Basia's smooth and expressive crooning), "Astrud," (very reflective, expressive, melancholy and beautiful to listen to), and "Miles Away" (a more jazzy and bluesy number filled with wistfulness).

This is truly a timeless album and I hope that new generations are introduced to this wonderful singer and her great, innovative sound that is appealing to a great cross section of listeners, no matter their culture!

This is the album which brought Basia to my attention and for that I'll be eternally grateful! It's difficult to categorize Basia's music on this album as it runs the gamut from Brazilian-based Samba/Bossa Nova to 80's techno-pop but whatever you call it, it's a wonderful, unique experience.

Basia's solo debut is simply a stunning album, and a worthy successor to the genre-blending harmonic bliss of Matt Bianco's "Whose Side are you on." The first time I ever heard the single "Time and Tide," I thought the clear, assured voice sounded like a young Linda Ronstadt, and I still think it's a brilliant single to kick off an amazing body of work. The songwriting (with Danny White) is sensitive and insightful, the melodies rich and full of Latin and jazz influences and textures. It is music too smart and sophisticated for the masses, and it's a credit to Basia that she doesn't strive to be more commercial. She's big in Brasil and many Latin countries, and I believe that attests to her appreciation of melody and Latin musical forms. Whether she is mining the melancholy of post-relationship emotion in "From Now on," tearing it up on "How Dare You," floating breezily through "Miles Away," or singing a glorious tribute (and repaying her debt of influence) to Brasilian superstar Astrud Gilberto on "Astrud," she always sounds elegant and intelligent. Matt Bianco fans might miss the zany genius of Mark Reilly, but Basia and Danny White prove with this CD that they are worthy colleagues of Mr. Reilly and his musical mayhem machine. You can't help but be excited about how to follow such a spectacular debut.

This is my review on the songs in Time and Tide, the first solo album of Basia Trzetrzelewska. She has succeeded in combining many music styles, from Latin, Ballad, a little Pop, and Jazz. I got the US version CD, so I don't include 'Give Me That' and 'Forgive and Forget'.

Promises
A nice song with a Bossa-Nova style with her own characteristics; so let's call it Basia-Nova. In this song, Basia asks us not to be hypocrites. Just say yes when we ask ourselves that we often broke our promises. The moral message of this song is that, just say yes if you can do it, or no if you can't. This song became one of my favorites among Basia's songs. Really, really nice. If you don't believe me, go and ask anybody, they will all say the same!

Run for Cover
A nice song with a fast tempo makes you really run for cover. The music is so dynamic, so alive; you won't be able to keep your body, ore at least your hand, still. When you hear this, you'll feel like you want to dance.

Time and Tide
A really classic song with a nice touch. Great voice! I can't comment more except this is a state-of-the-art song.

Freeze Thaw
The fast tempo Bossa-Nova style seemed to be the characteristic of Basia, although she also can sing the slow one nicely. This song is one of the examples.

From Now On
This is the original version of this song. Although the voice is not so deep and bold, it has a nice touch. The sound of the acoustic guitar from Peter White gives this song a big plus mark.

New Day for You
This birthday song reminds you that there will always be a new day in you life. Helps you to remember that there always be a true best friend for you. If you want a different birthday 'present', this is the right song.

Prime Time TV
A song that gives us a fact that many TV programs depend on the popular demands. Although the pattern of them is generally similar, we are still mesmerized by them, by the 'unreal' lives they offer. Who is the foolish one? The audiences or the producers?

Astrud
Nice song, I can even hear her breath when she started to sing at the beginning of the song. This song somewhat has a sensual atmosphere, maybe because Basia's voice is so soft but strong when she sings it.

How Dare You, Miles Away
These two songs have the Swing Jazz style although different in tempo. Basia's characteristics are still strong in them, so the songs are not the ordinary Swing Jazz. Therefore, let's call it 'Swing Jazzia'. No matter the one is fast and the other is slow, they are beautiful and enjoyable.

Her first solo album, Time and Tide, is a great success. In general, all songs in it have a special quality, which make them everlasting songs. No matter how old they are, the songs are still up-to-date, even for the next five or ten years from now. You won't be sorry.

Basia is one of the best Bossa Nova singers in the world. She could be compared with the Brazilians DIVAS Gal Costa, Zizi Possi and Elis Regina. Time and Tide brings us to the waves of Rio de Janeiro and the entire Brazil. Basia debut album is one of her best. She shines!!!! Great work!!!!

You can definitely hear a heavy Brazillian influence in her music. Pleasing and easy to listen to.

I bought this album in 1989. She has such a great voice and the music is a joy to listen. A must have.