Canadian proggish rock band The Tea Party released their first album in a while with "The Ocean At The End". It could be considered a concept album with a consistent sound, flow, and theme through the record that makes you grateful that they've returned with such a strong album. You will note that they pull from a lot of Zep influences here, so get ready. Let's look at the songs, shall we?
1. The O.C. - If this doesn't remind you of Zep's "Achilles Last Stand" then you apparently don't know much about rock. It's a fantastic take and twist with Tea Party flavour. 6.5/10.
2. The Black Sea - Starts mean with some heavy drums and the darkness and continues. The song labours, but the bridge has some delight "waves crash around you..." This is a standard Tea Party song. I like the dual guitar solo and beat pick up but the song lacks something I can't put my finger on. 5/10.
3. Cypher - The beginning again reminds me of Zep, this time "In the Evening" is beckoned for the first minute but then this wicked drum lick come in for a couple bars and repeats, then the guitar riff and Jeff singing "You hold the key" and more menacing lyrics. Finally the bass kicks in. For me, this song has good colour with the drums. 7.5/10.
4. The Maker - This is a fantastic cover of fellow Canadian Daniel Lanois' song--if not even better. This song gives me chills and Jeff's vocals are perfect for it. The high bassline lick played over and over give it a comforting drive along with a rattatattat sequencer hinting the background. The chorus sees "I'm not a stranger in the eyes of the maker" with Jeff's backing vocals thrown to the far back left of your headphones. 8.5/10.
5. Black Roses - Again, with a Zep feel, the song also reminds of Big Wreck's latest album. A dojo shines in this one and just makes the song complete and rounded. "Let's have another glass of wine. It's in these moment's that we'll find." I can really identify with that line. Organ hints mimic the dojo later in the song. Strongest song on the album so far with a nice flow into an angrier part but it remains hopeful. Some complex parts. Then near the end, Jeff singshouts "Hey babe, what should I do..." which totally reminds me of "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do" from you guessed it, Zep. Beautifully produced song though. 9/10.
6. Brazil - A mysterious sounding song with tom toms flying in the verses and bellowing "ah ah aahs". The chorus cries "See how they want you?" followed with a gang vocal "BRAZIL!" Then a fast beat with a two bar distorted and compressed guitar chord theme punch through until the next verse. Brdige and chorus again then the denumont hears a refs whistle reminding you that it's about Brazil, or the recent World Cup, maybe? Song fades out with "Watching the world come to you." and some salsa sounds. Interesting song. 6/10.
7. The 11th Hour - Song starts mystical with a hurdy gurdy monotoning through and distance electronic drums carry it forward for 50 seconds then it fully kicks into a big sound riff, again reminding me of? But the verse just rocks with a chunky guitar hitting through. Finally the chorus strikes higher "I saw the real breaking through, shining through, wanting you." Then back to the heavy rock riff, chorus, solo, then the chorus broken down quiet and back to the main lick and it repeats other parts again, ending with the chorus repeated. The beginning is hinted at briefly again. 6.5/10.
8. Submission - We're now treated to some heavy synth reminding me of Gary Numan "Cars" but with a faster drum. Love the bell timing. A different, cool sound, for sure. 6.5/10.
9. The Cass Corridor - A bluesy southern sound kicks this one off with distorted harmonica and talking, simple lyrics. It reminds me of later, yep, Zep that I didn't care for much. Not the greatest song. Then I hear a Tom Sawyer resosweep sound that has no business being in there. 3/10.
10. Water's On Fire - A beautiful, flowing beginning synth and lyrics start with drums and bass following soon after. Chorus doesn't kick in until after second bridge which builds the anticipation into a fantastic louder anthemic chorus. The solo rides high followed by Jeff's chorus vocals. Drums are all over the place but carrying it forward. 7/10.
11/12. The Ocean At The End / Into The Unknown - The title track with the word "end" in it actually ends the album, Song begins with ocean wave and seagull sounds then a synth pad with a 16th note hi-hat remind me of Turn Me Loose but then it doesn't. It's actually a slower song. Synth chords change slightly until the verse finally kicks in at 1:30. The verses build and you can hear pain in his voice. The multi-minute solo certainly reminds me of some Page for sure but it mimics the verses in parts and goes off strong in places. Then a Floydish Dark Side synth sequencer takes over leading back into the song bridge and chorus. At nearly nine minutes, this is the best original song on the album, and certainly has proggy influences. The end has the ocean sounds again flowing into continuing dark synth of the next song, which I've coupled together here because I thought they were the same song. 8.0/10.
Album song average is 6.73 which sounds about right. Although I'd consider this a relatively strong album, the heavy Zep influences simply make me realize just how good Zep was, and how Jeff Martin needs to perhaps discover some other artists of the past to make it more refreshing. There's two songs that pull the album down, but overall, I like it and have listened to it many times.
