siLLy puPPy PIKE 163 - BLUE TIDE is the 62nd album released by BUCKETHEAD in 2015. Yet again another PIKE that clocks in close to 30 minutes at 29:33 finding BUCKETHEAD handling all instruments on an all instrumental album. This PIKE has two tracks even divided up between both words in the title.

“Blue” is the shorter of the two tracks at 12:38 and is another one of those space rock tracks only chicken lover is getting better at keeping the Pink Floyd too obvious. Mid-tempo bass and drums allow the guitar line to soar in all its mellow wah-wah glory. This track is basically a single riff that repeats the bass and has guitar leading over it for the whole run. Not much to report or really like but it is pleasant enough but not OMG brilliant in any way.

“Tide” at 16:55 is the longer of the two tracks and begins with the same guitar tone with a little slower tempo. It is less spacey and more sombre in feel. It has more of a melodic development than “Blue” and feels a tad folkier in some ways but also reminds me a bit of the “Scenes” album by Marty Friedman where he married his virtuoso guitar abilities with Kitaro’s new age sensibilities. It is still one of those slow burners but somewhat different than the usual BH slow burners.

Given the title BLUE TIDE i was expecting a blues album or something close but no way! This does have blues aspects like most rock but is definitely not in the blues camp at all. This is mellow slow inoffensive rock that would could find a home on an AOR station’s instrumental hour. While these two tracks are decently done and not a bad listen, i hardly find them brilliantly executed bringing all kinds of new ideas into the world. One of those albums that is very nice to have on as background music but doesn’t rock the world as an active listener.