The Tidal Water continues its analysis of the modern world with its latest single, “Pixelated Perfection,” an ornate and insightful look into how the modern world uses technology, social media, and artificial intelligence to seek perfection. Or at least perceived perfection. Because, as we all know, perfection is an illusion, those connections are the opposite of social networking, and technology is no substitute for human contact. We are all fully aware of this, yet still, we create these simulacra and simulations of ourselves, these false identities to interact with other illusionary identities. It is a world where marketing and addiction merge, often disastrously.
As always, their music is as complex as the subjects they discuss. I always feel that The Tidal Water’s music is like the tightly woven design of a fine rug: pleasing at a distance but revealing ever more intricacies and awe-inspiring minutiae the closer you get to it.
Here, the sonic hues and deft musical threads that they employ are many, not least guitars that both squall and groove as required, barroom piano cascades, funky bass lines, and all manner of other sonics that act as the knotwork that anchors everything together. And above it all Martin Hovden’s speak-song deliveries lay out uncomfortable truths and stark warnings.
I remember a time when music was happy to be mere entertainment. However, as the world becomes more difficult to navigate, as technology seems to run away with itself faster than we can understand its true consequences, more and more artists are taking it upon themselves to ask the all-important questions and deliver the necessary talking points.
In a world where technology seems to be our master, rather than the other way around, thank the digital gods that we have bands like The Tidal Water.
